Platelet adherence to bioprosthetic cardiac valves

Abstract

Tissue from porcine aortic bioprosthetic valves (Hancock) and bovine pericardial valves (lonescu-Shiley) were incubated with platelets tagged with chromium-51. There was a significantly decreased platelet-collagen adhesion reaction in both porcine and bovine glutaraldehyde-treated valves compared with reactions in fresh porcine aortic valve and fresh bovine pericardium (p <0.001). There was no significant difference in the platelet-collagen reaction between porcine aortic valve and bovine pericardium, whether treated with glutaraldehyde or in the fresh state (p >0.05). The addition of aspirin did not significantly decrease the platelet-collagen reaction on glutaraldehyde-treated or fresh valves (p >0.05). Rinsing fresh valves in plasma appeared to offer more protection against platelet adhesion than rinsing them in saline solution (p <0.01). It is concluded that there is no difference in platelet adherence to porcine aortic valve or bovine pericardium and that glutaraldehyde, and perhaps plasma, offers a protective effect against platelet adhesion.