title: Rapid bioprosthetic valve degeneration resulting in severe mitral stenosis.
abstract: A 61-year-old man presented 9 months after bioprosthetic mitral valve implantation with progressive exertional dyspnea. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed severe mitral stenosis with diffuse leaflet thickening but no calcification. Subsequent pathologic examination of the valve demonstrated infiltrating fibroconnective tissue and chronic inflammation. Careful echocardiographic follow-up of this valve type may be warranted, especially in patients with early recurrent symptoms.
authors: Cardiovascular Consultants and the Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Missouri 64111, USA.
authors: Madhuri
authors: M
authors: Bajaj
authors: Hussam
authors: H
authors: Abuissa
authors: Michael L
authors: ML
authors: Main
mesh_terms: D001705:Bioprosthesis; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome