New evidence for a critical role of elastin in calcification of native heart valves: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study with literature review.

Aims: Calcific aortic stenosis is a progressive disease characterized by massive fibrosis andmineralization of the valve leaflets. The aim of this study was to determine whether the onset of native calcific aortic stenosis is associated primarily with matrix remodelling events, and particularly with elastin degradation.

Methods And Results: The immunohistochemical expression profile of matrix degradating enzymes and tenascin-C was investigated in both healthy and native calcified aortic valves.

Surgical results of aortic valve replacement via partial upper sternotomy: comparison with median sternotomy.

Background: the theoretical advantages of mini-invasive cardiac surgery are shorter hospitalisation, better surgical results and costs reduction. In November 1997 we started a non-coronary mini-invasive surgery program using a partial upper median sternotomy. This study has been conceived to retrospectively compare two groups of patients who underwent isolate aortic valve replacement using the conventional and the mini-invasive technique.