Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jan 1996
Case ReportsValvulitis involving a bioprosthetic valve in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.
A 37-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus, who underwent an aortic valve replacement with a Carpentier-Edwards porcine valve for severe aortic insufficiency, was admitted to the hospital with pulmonary edema. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed severe aortic insufficiency arising from partial dehiscence of the valve sewing ring, as well as centrally from the valve cusp. ⋯ After replacement of both valves, the patient had a stormy postoperative course with recurrent communications between the left ventricle and atrium requiring multiple surgeries and eventually died. This case illustrates the severity of valvulopathy and ensuing complications that can affect patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and demonstrates that the valvulopathy can affect bioprosthetic valves, a finding that has significant implications as to the type of valve replacement in these patients.