SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS VALVULITIS - MITRAL-VALVE REPLACEMENT WITH A HOMOGRAFT

For many years, valvulitis in systemic lupus erythematosus has been kn own to occur. Our patient was a 17-year-old girl who presented with se vere mitral incompetence and renal insufficiency due to lupus valvulit is. The patient was first treated by mitral valve repair, but follow-u p disclosed precocious calcification of the valve, necessitating mitra l valve replacement with a cryopreserved homograft. At follow-up after 1 year, echocardiography has shown the valve to be functioning normal ly. A reconstructive mitral valve operation would seem to be preferabl e. However, a conservative operation does not alter the natural histor y of the disease and the progression of valve thickening and calcifica tion.