Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the left and/or right ventricle characterized by the development of myocardial hypertrophy predominant at the interventricular septum. There is no direct cause, such as…
Degenerative valvular diseases are the main cause of mitral valve dysfunction in developed countries today and the “pain quotidien” * * See Glossary . of the valvular surgeon. They are…
Immune-mediated systemic diseases can create valvular lesions, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus, primary antiphospholipid syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS Systemic lupus erythematosus is an immune complex–mediated inflammatory…
The term “ischemic valvular disease” defines valve regurgitation due to ventricular ischemia or ventricular infarction is classified by the term “ischemic valvular disease.” This definition excludes preexisting valvular diseases in…
Endomyocardial fibrosis is characterized by progressive fibrosis and thickening of the ventricular endocardium that result in restrictive cardiomyopathy. The prevalence of this disease is greater in tropical and subtropical countries…
The World Health Organization restricts the use of the term “dilated cardiomyopathy” to diseases of unknown cause that primarily involve the myocardium. The term “idiopathic cardiomyopathy” would be more accurate…
Extensive calcification of the mitral valve annulus is a pathological entity that may or may not be associated with other mitral valve diseases. In its most characteristic configuration, it forms…
Despite all the progress made in antimicrobial therapy, bacterial endocarditis remains a “malignant disease,” as defined by Sir William Osler in the pre-antibiotic era. This is attributable to the difficulty…
Tricuspid valve malformations are very rare. The most frequent is the anomaly described by Ebstein in 1866, which represents only 0.5% of patients with congenital heart disease. Other tricuspid valve…
Before 1950 rheumatic fever was one of the most common epidemics in the world, with considerable socioeconomic consequences. As an example, acute rheumatic fever was the most common cause of…
