To overcome the disadvantages of mechanical valves and bioprostheses, especially in
the mitral position, transplantation of an allogeneous mitral valve was performed
in 3 patients. One transplant had to be removed 8 weeks postoperatively, most probably
due to maladjustment of the anterior leaflet during surgery. The histology of this
specimen showed not clear signs of rejection. In 2 patients, echocardiography showed
a normal motion pattern of the mitral valves 6 months postoperatively. Regurgitation
was less than 10% of the total stroke volume as calculated by videodensitometry. Both
patients were in excellent clinical condition. Mitral valve transplantation can be
performed with excellent short-term results. Further studies including immunologic
monitoring are necessary to evaluate the long-term behavior of the transplant.
Allogeneous transplantation - Mitral valve - Cardiac valve surgery
