Congenital Polyvalvular Disease

Abstract

Thirty-six hearts were studied in which all valves were involved in a dysplastic process. This consisted of an increase in spongiosa with vacuolar and lacunar degeneration, and a distinct lack of elastic tissue in the proximalis and in the spongiosa. This process was similar to, but more marked than that seen in a case of a single dysplastic valve as in bicuspid aortic valve. It was completely different than that seen in hemodynamic change. These cases clinically were often associated with trisomy 18 or trisomy 13-15, and called congenital polyvalvular disease. This disease may bear some relationship to Marfan's disease and the "floppy valve".