Application of EDXRF to the assessment of aortic valve mineralization

Calcification of the aortic valve cusps due to degenerative changes is the most common lesion encountered in patients who require aortic valve replace ment. The primary pathogenic mechanisms responsible for calcific degenerati on of the aortic valves still remain unclear. Moreover, there are no conven ient methods for the assessment of aortic valve susceptibility to mineraliz ation, which is of crucial importance for the choice of valves for transpla ntation. The present study was undertaken to develop a quick method for the assessment of the mineralization of aortic valve samples by determination of the increase in calcium level during in vitro incubation of aorta sample s. Such a method would allow one to obtain the necessary information withou t destruction of the material for transplantation. The study consisted in t he incubation of human aorta and aortic valve samples, followed by the dete rmination of calcium concentrations by EDXRF. The following elements were d etected: Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Br. Compton scatte ring was used for determination of the sample thickness. The results showed that if there is an increase in Ca level in aortic valves it is accompanie d by its elevation in aorta. The study showed that EDXRF may be a useful to ol for studies of mineralization processes in aortic valve and aorta sample s. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.