title: Xenograft calcification in Reiter's syndrome.
abstract: Reiter's syndrome is characterized by multiple joint arthropathy, and can affect the heart. One manifestation of cardiac involvement is aortic insufficiency that may require valve replacement. Herein is reported a case with rapidly progressive and severe calcification of a bovine pericardial prosthesis seven years after implantation, in the setting of Reiter's syndrome. Based on this experience, it is suggested that echocardiographic evaluations be scheduled more frequently than usual if a bioprosthetic rather than mechanical valve is chosen for a patient with Reiter's syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0007, USA.
authors.forename: J Harrison
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Silvio H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Litovsky
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tallaj
authors.forename: Xiuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Holman
mesh_terms: D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000150:complications*; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000009:adverse effects