Accelerated Degeneration of a Bovine Pericardial Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve in Children and Young Adults.

In this manuscript, the authors describe their findings after reviewing 27 young patients (between 7 and 30 years of age) who had undergone aortic valve replacement with two types of bovine pericardial biological prosthesis: Mitroflow® LXA (15 patients) and PERIMOUNT Magna® and Magna Ease® (12 patients) valves.

Life-threatening aortic bioprosthetic valve stenosis at 1.5 to 3 years after Mitroflow® LXA valve implantation occurred in 5 patients (33%). Freedom from valve failure at 3 years among those with a Mitroflow® LXA valve was 18%, and progression from less than mild to severe aortic stenosis was observed over a median of 6 months. No valve failures were noted in the observation period among 12 patients with a Magna® or Magna Ease® aortic bioprosthesis.

Based on their findings, the authors conclude that children and very young adults who have received a Mitroflow® LXA pericardial aortic bioprosthesis are at elevated risk for rapid prosthetic valve failure.