Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Homograft questions
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Homograft questions
by concerned, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
Are tissues such as heart valves used in homografts checked for diseases like HIV before use ? Does the recipients tissue eventually graft itself to the donor tissue (like a cut heals) or is the donor tissue merely held in place by stitching for the life of the donor tissue ? What wears out in the new valve tissue causing it to need replacement ?
Thank You
Thank You
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, MD, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
, Nov 16, 2000 12:00AM
Yes, all organ donors are routinely screened for blood borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Even if they were positive the risk of transmission would be very small. There is "healing" of the graft to the body eventually and the sutures are no longer needed after some time. The valve wears out due to mechanical strain and leaflet degeneration.
