Massive Calcification of the Mitral Annulus

Abstract

CALCIFICATION of the annulus fibrosus of the mitral valve is commonly found in older people at autopsy.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8} Although this process can be a sequela of rheumatic,^{7 , 8} rheumatoid⁹ and other types of endocarditis, pathological evidence of previous inflammation is often absent.^{10 , 11} The lesion is generally regarded as the end stage of a degenerative process.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8} Recently, severe calcification of the mitral annulus, with resultant anatomic deformity of the orifice, has been found in 5 patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital at post-mortem examination. In none was there pathological evidence of healed rheumatic heart disease. These unusual findings stimulated a search of the . . .