Natural and prosthetic heart valve calcification: morphology and chemical composition characterization.
Artif Organs
; 34(4): 311-8, 2010 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20420613
ABSTRACT
Calcification is the most common cause of damage and subsequent failure of heart valves. Although it is a common phenomenon, little is known about it, and less about the inorganic phase obtained from this type of calcification. This article describes the scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Ca K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) characterization performed in natural and bioprosthetic heart valves calcified in vivo (in comparison to in vitro-calcified valves). SEM micrographs indicated the presence of deposits of similar morphology, and XANES results indicate, at a molecular level, that the calcification mechanism of both types of valves are probably similar, resulting in formation of poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite deposits, with Ca/P ratios that increase with time, depending on the maturation state. These findings may contribute to the search for long-term efficient anticalcification treatments.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Prosthesis Failure
/
Calcinosis
/
Heart Valve Prosthesis
/
Heart Valves
/
Cardiomyopathies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Artif Organs
Year:
2010
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: