Aortic valve replacement with bioprostheses in liver transplant recipients

Three cases of aortic valve replacement with porcine bioprostheses are repo rted in liver transplant recipients at two to six years after transplantati on. Indications for aortic valve replacement (AVR) were aortic stenosis (n = 2) and aortic regurgitation (n = 1). The use of bioprostheses was recomme nded because of patient age, the need for multiple liver biopsies, and cont raindication to the use of anticoagulation therapy. The patient who underwe nt AVR because of aortic regurgitation developed structural valve deteriora tion (SVD) during the next five years after surgery, and thus replacement o f the bioprosthetic valve was required. Recipients of liver transplant who undergo valve replacement with tissue valves should be carefully followed u p because of the risk of early SVD. AVR may be performed safely after liver transplantation.