Composition of surface layers in unfixed autologous fascia lata heart valve grafts. A transmission electron microscopical study.
Sixty-nine patients underwent aortic valve replacement with frame mounted non-fixated fascia lata grafts. Nine patients still have their fascia lata valve in place after a period of between 9 to 11 years. Fifty-two grafts were available for histo-pathologic examination. The mechanism of valve thickening was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The major factor contribution to the thickening seems to be a surface accumulation of complex proteins, fibrin and platelets. Within the valvular tissue itself, subcellular degenerative products in cell cytoplasm, the interstitium and in the sub-surface layer also contributed. The thickening never exceeded one fifth of the original thickness of the valve.
D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000637:transplantation / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005404:Fixatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
D005404:Fixatives; D003094:Collagen