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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
calcification of aortic wall
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calcification of aortic wall
by lauraleespears1, Aug 06, 2004 12:00AM
Thank you for the response on my last post. However I forgot to ask what can be done for the calcification that has presented it self just after my sons last annual visit to the cardiologist. why does this form after a Homograft valve? also will he need his Aortic valve replace again? If so would he have to go with a mechanical valve? That would really worry me because he has chronic nose bleeds.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, Aug 06, 2004 12:00AM
Hi lauraleespears1,
There is currently no way to reverse or prevent the calcifications on homografts. As to why it forms, it isn't completely understood or easily explained. On a simple level, it is a foreign material to the body and the body rejects it to a certain extent leading to calcifications, but there is not simple answer to this question.
He will likely need his valve replacement or will need another homograft. If at all possible, a valve replacement in someone this age should be a mechanical valve. A mechanical valve can last virtually forever, a bioprosthetic valve or tissue valve would only last 10 - 15 years in a young, active person. Over his lifetime, a mechanical valve could save him many repeat surgeries.
Kids and adolescences prone to nosebleeds often out grow that tendency. This shouldn't be a concern.
I hope this helps and thanks for posting.
There is currently no way to reverse or prevent the calcifications on homografts. As to why it forms, it isn't completely understood or easily explained. On a simple level, it is a foreign material to the body and the body rejects it to a certain extent leading to calcifications, but there is not simple answer to this question.
He will likely need his valve replacement or will need another homograft. If at all possible, a valve replacement in someone this age should be a mechanical valve. A mechanical valve can last virtually forever, a bioprosthetic valve or tissue valve would only last 10 - 15 years in a young, active person. Over his lifetime, a mechanical valve could save him many repeat surgeries.
Kids and adolescences prone to nosebleeds often out grow that tendency. This shouldn't be a concern.
I hope this helps and thanks for posting.
Member Comments (1)
by tina86, Mar 06, 2008 08:57AM
A related discussion, calcification in aortic wall was started.
