title: Calcification of a porcine valve xenograft during pregnancy--a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: A 20-year-old woman required urgent replacement of a calcified prosthetic mitral porcine xenograft with a mechanical one during the 32nd week of pregnancy. Five weeks later the patient delivered a normal child. Following delivery the patient refused oral anticoagulant treatment and 7 months later she underwent emergency removal of a prosthetic valve thrombus. Six months later, still refusing anticoagulant treatment, she died of cerebral embolization. We suggest that the replacement of a degenerated biologic valve with another biologic valve should be considered in patients who refuse anticoagulant treatment and that patients with prosthetic xenografts should be kept under close medical follow-up, including echocardiography because of possible accelerated xenograft failure during and/or following pregnancy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000209:etiology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants