Calcification and Oxidative Modifications Are Associated With Progressive Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Dysfunction.

Background: Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs), fabricated from glutaraldehyde-pretreated bovine pericardium or porcine aortic valves, are widely used for the surgical or interventional treatment of heart valve disease. Reoperation becomes increasingly necessary over time because of BHV dysfunction.

Methods And Results: Forty-seven explanted BHV aortic valve replacements were retrieved at reoperation for clinically severe BHV dysfunction over the period 2010-2016.