Aortic Root Replacement with a Freestyle Porcine Valve in a Young Woman with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Antiphospholipid Antibodies / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Aortic root replacement with a Freestyle^TM stentless porcine valve (Medtronic Inc.) was performed on a 32-year-old woman for aortic root aneurysm. The patient had been given a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus and had been maintained on steroid therapy for 15 years. Lupus anticoagulant was present and the anticardiolipin antibody titer was abnormal as follows IgG, 2.0IU/ml (normal<1.0IU/ml). For the patient requiring aortic root reconstruction, many options are available. The use of a biological valved conduit should be considered for patients in whom anticoagulation is not desirable. The Freestyle^TM stentless porcine valve offers an acceptable alternative to mechanical prostheses, especially for cases with contraindication for anticoagulant therapy, associated with antiphospholipid antibodies.