Tissue Valvers. How Old is Yours?

[Superbob]

15 years for my first one, a piggie valve. Was still going strong on it but surgeon replaced it in Sept 2019 because he was in there fixing an aortic aneurysm and thought he might as well do a valve job too. So now have an Edwards bovine, which is working fine. Where once I oinked, now I moooooo.

 

[esvaja]

11 years and 2 months for me. Valve is now severely stenotic and mod-severe regurgitation, and I will be having another replacement within the next couple of months. I will be 55 years old.

Tezza I'm with you. My Edwards Bovine is severely stenotic & is nearly 10 years old. They say it's from calcium buildup. Dies anybody know what causes calcium buildup, I believe they are working on a calcium resistant vale. Has anybody heard of one in production

 

[tom in MO]

Tezza I'm with you. My Edwards Bovine is severely stenotic & is nearly 10 years old. They say it's from calcium buildup. Dies anybody know what causes calcium buildup, I believe they are working on a calcium resistant vale. Has anybody heard of one in production

There are guesses as to what causes tissue valve failures but nobody knows for sure other than it's your body chemistry.

 

[LondonAndy]

They say it's from calcium buildup. Dies anybody know what causes calcium buildup,

When my mechanical aortic valve was inserted, my natural valve had been severely stenotic due to calcium. I have been on one statin or another for cholesterol management for almost 30 years, and have been an insulin dependent diabetic for 24 years, and my surgeon said that the combination of statins and insulin were now thought to cause calcification.

The male side of my family has a long history of heart disease, with my father dying at age 54 in 1990, and in the 1980s he lost two brothers, aged 34 and 40, all from heart attacks. And yet my brother, who takes after my mother's side of the family more, has no cholesterol or diabetes issues. Genetics, huh.

 

[CarolM]

After my 2nd AVR, I also wondered why my valve calcified so quickly. There is some research indicating that very high lipoprotein (a) is linked to calcification. Who knows??

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033062020301225

 

[Chuck C]

" There is some research indicating that very high lipoprotein (a) is linked to calcification. "

Yes, this is absolutely true. All individuals should be tested for Lp(a), but especially those with valve disease. I am 53 and have BAV with moderate/severe aortic stenosis. and have sky high Lp(a). I take PCSK9-I (Repatha) to lower my Lp(a). PCSK9-I was shown to reduce the events for those with valve disease by 52% by the second year, in a post hoc analysis of the Fourier Trial. This was published a few months ago. As far as I am aware, it is the first time that a drug has been shown to possibly slow the progression of valve disease. The apparent slowing of progression is very likely to be connected to the lowering of Lp(a). This is a reason why all with valve disease should consider PCSK9-I and talk to their cardiologists about it. Just bring copies of the literature form the Fourier Trial to your appointment, because it is very unlikely that they will be aware of this information. My cardiologist agreed with me after I showed him the paper and asked if he could keep it for his file.
Post Hoc analysis of Fourier Trial, showing lowering of HR with PCSK9-I: Analysis of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibition and Aortic Stenosis in the FOURIER Trial

 

[Chuck C]

When my mechanical aortic valve was inserted, my natural valve had been severely stenotic due to calcium. I have been on one statin or another for cholesterol management for almost 30 years, and have been an insulin dependent diabetic for 24 years, and my surgeon said that the combination of statins and insulin were now thought to cause calcification.

The male side of my family has a long history of heart disease, with my father dying at age 54 in 1990, and in the 1980s he lost two brothers, aged 34 and 40, all from heart attacks. And yet my brother, who takes after my mother's side of the family more, has no cholesterol or diabetes issues. Genetics, huh.

Andy, has your family been tested for Lp(a)? They will usually not test for it unless you ask them to, although all should be tested. High Lp(a) is often found to be the culprit when there is a family history of people dying in their 40s and 50s from heart disease. My grandfather died at 52 of heart disease- his father at 54. It was discovered last year that I have sky high Lp(a)- had the family tested and we have traced it back to my grandfather who died at 52. This is almost certainly the reason why. You may remember Bob Harper from The Biggest Loser. In great shape, fitness instructor who had a massive heart attack at age 51- it was due to his elevated Lp(a).

 

[cp172]

My Abbott Epic Porcine mitral valve is 1.5 months old. Taking it real easy so heart will heal and hopeful stay in rhythm. It makes me feel great to hear how active most folks are after getting their new valves. Am 66 and have had multiple echos over last year. I usually get at least one a year. Any other Epic valves out there?

 

[bobco70]

My 21mm Edwards Perimount Magna 3000TFX is 15.3 years. I take vitamin D3 and K2 Mk7 and Mk4 from Inovixlabs which may slow down calicification of leaflets. No symptoms yet though cannot do windsurfing after 2005 AVR because valve was too small.

 

[Stevebav]

My 21mm Edwards Perimount Magna 3000TFX is 15.3 years. I take vitamin D3 and K2 Mk7 and Mk4 from Inovixlabs which may slow down calicification of leaflets. No symptoms yet though cannot do windsurfing after 2005 AVR because valve was too small.

That's encouraging for me - My surgeon had no problem with me 'going Bovine' but insisted on the perimount magna in place of Inspiris Resilia because of longer track record. Have you been taking the vitamins since your AVR? I, like most I imagine, have asked the surgeon, my cardiologist, the post op rehab team and my GP if there is any recommended diet/medication/anything to help reduce calcification/stenosis of my new parts and they've all said 'not known at this address'/nothing proven!

 

[bobco70]

Have you been taking the vitamins since your AVR?

On, Off and now On, I started taking D3 plus K2 mk4 mk7 after I read a K2/calcium book that claimed it put calcium in bones and removed it from soft tissue. I believe it reduced my regurgitation due to more flexible leaflets. But no professional has told me that, so it may be wishful thinking. Then I stopped taking the K2 for a few years when my GP reminded me that it is not approved by the FDA for that purpose. More recently I returned to taking K2 mk4 mk7 when I read that there were clinical trials with control groups to see if any measurable effects and that it is used for prevent/treat osteoporosis in Japan perhaps justifying me trying it again as I also have osteoporosis as measured by the BMD density. See MK-7 and Its Effects on Bone Quality and Strength for osteoporosis, Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02517580 for more arterial flexibility but it seems too early for results of clinical trials. Note K2 is not K1. I don't take K1 vitamins.

 

[Luckyguy17]

My Abbott Epic Porcine mitral valve is 1.5 months old. Am 66 and have had multiple echos over last year. I usually get at least one a year. Any other Epic valves out there?

Yes, i also have an Epic Porcine, ESP-100, but from St-Jude Medical and mine was an aortic replacement, male, done in May 2010 at 56 years old. Am now 67 and due for replacement, just shy of 11 yrs. Yearly Echoes now seem a Good idea, i was likely too infrequent and the last echo was quite a surprise.

 

[Chuck C]

Tezza I'm with you. My Edwards Bovine is severely stenotic & is nearly 10 years old. They say it's from calcium buildup. Dies anybody know what causes calcium buildup, I believe they are working on a calcium resistant vale. Has anybody heard of one in production

Hi.
Dr. Pibarot forwarded two of his recent publications on biomarkers and risk factors which correlated with structural valve deterioration (SVD) for biological valves.
I hope that these help:

 

[Chuck C]

After my 2nd AVR, I also wondered why my valve calcified so quickly. There is some research indicating that very high lipoprotein (a) is linked to calcification. Who knows??

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033062020301225

Lp(a) has been shown to correlate strongly with significantly accelerated calcification of native valves. However, I do not believe that a link has yet been shown to suggest that elevated Lp(a) will accelerate the calcification of a bioprothesis valve. As I have very high levels of Lp(a), this was something which I looked into extensively.

 

[Squashplayer]

On May 2, 2005, my bicuspid aortic valve was replaced by a wonderful, brilliant surgeon with an Edwards Perimount Magna (bovine pericardial), along with a graft of my ascending aorta. If you do the math, I've had the valve for (almost) 16 years. It has served me well through multiple (non heart-related) medical issues and procedures, and it's still going strong, with very little calcification. I know (from VR posts and from others) that tissue valves have been trouble for some, but I have had none. My age is 76. Questions?

 

[Bryan B]

Just past my 10th anniversary with the CE bovine pericardial aortic valve. Have had no heart related issues during that time. I also have a homograft pulmonary valve that is coming up on 17 years in a couple of weeks. I was 43 when I received the homograft pulmonary valve (part of Ross Procedure) and I was 50 when I received the CE bovine pericardial aortic valve (part of Bentall Procedure).

 

[cp172]

Yes, i also have an Epic Porcine, ESP-100, but from St-Jude Medical and mine was an aortic replacement, male, done in May 2010 at 56 years old. Am now 67 and due for replacement, just shy of 11 yrs. Yearly Echoes now seem a Good idea, i was likely too infrequent and the last echo was quite a surprise.

Hi Luckyguy,
When are you getting your new valve? Any idea which model?
Thanks
Mickey

 

[calguy]

Question about vaccine and Mitral valve , My wife had a Mitral replaced in 2018 and had her first shot and getting the second the 24 of next week, has anyone had any reaction that I should be worried about? She's 76 and not in the best of health but we been together 50 years and hope to have more. Good or bad answers , I just have bad fillings after reading about this 39 year old healthy woman in Utah who passed away 4 days after her second shot. The way I read is that her functions shut down. Thanks for any answers.

 

[CindyBain]

I had Mitral Valve repair and am 71, will need to replace my valve soon as it is leaking and going on 16 years of age. I had the Moderna vaccine, both shots. No reaction to #1, reaction to 2nd with all but fever... aches, pains, chills, that started about 8 hours later, lasted about 12 hours or so, maybe longer. I am fine now and so relieved that I can get back out into the world, carefullly!!! Good luck to your wife!!!

 

[Chuck C]

Question about vaccine and Mitral valve , My wife had a Mitral replaced in 2018 and had her first shot and getting the second the 24 of next week, has anyone had any reaction that I should be worried about? She's 76 and not in the best of health but we been together 50 years and hope to have more. Good or bad answers , I just have bad fillings after reading about this 39 year old healthy woman in Utah who passed away 4 days after her second shot. The way I read is that her functions shut down. Thanks for any answers.

" I just have bad fillings after reading about this 39 year old healthy woman in Utah who passed away 4 days after her second shot. "
I think it is important to keep the relative risks in mind- there have been 109 vaccine injections in the US as of today- over 70 million people have had at least one so far. There are always going to be a handful of bad reactions with that many vaccinations. And statistically, with 70 million people, you will have a few deaths in any two week period. A death following the vaccine is not necessarily proof that the vaccine caused it, though those who like to drum up fears will play it up as a certainty.
For what its worth, I have had several family members vaccinated and the only reaction was my daughter who had light flu like symptoms after the second *** for about 24 hours. None of them have prosthetic valves, however.