Degenerative Valvular Diseases
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 Valvular Diseases
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…
Ischemic Valvular Disease
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
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…
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
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…
Calcified Annular Disease
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…
Infective Endocarditis
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: Ebstein’s Anomaly
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…
Rheumatic Valvular Disease
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…
Mitral Valve Malformations
Mitral valvular malformations are rare, diverse, and complex. They are often associated with other cardiac or great vessel anomalies that may hide or be hidden by the valvular malformation. They…
