Cardiac ochronosis: not so benign.
A 78-year-old patient with ochronosis has developed symptomatic aortic stenosis. He has undergone an aortic valve replacement that was highly complicated by a severe aortic calcification. The right coronary artery was sacrificed and bypassed in order to control a massive aortic root haemorrhage. The patient has presented a sternal dehiscence that required surgical revision. The sternal frailty was related to chronic corticotherapy in a patient with chronic spondylarthrosis. Cardiac ochronosis in the elderly may be associated to surgical complications related to severe aortic root calcifications and chronic corticotherapy for arthropathies.
Wauthy
Pierre
P
Department of Cardiac Surgery, CHU Brugmann, 4, Place A. van Gehuchten, B-1020 Brussels, Belgium.
Seghers
Valérie
V
Mathonet
Perrine
P
Deuvaert
Frank E
FE
D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009794:Ochronosis / Q000150:complications*; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology
D005938:Glucocorticoids