[Postoperative endocardial fibrosis following mitral valve prosthesis]

Uncommon observation of endocardial fibroelastosis of the left auricle and ventricle found at autopsy. The 46-year-old female patient had her mitral valve replaced 15 months ago because of mitral stenosis (and slight incompetence). The left auricle with certainty did not show endocardial fibrosis at the time of operation. The therefore acquired postoperative fibroelastosis of the left auricle is probably caused mechanically resp. by hypoxia since postoperatively valvular incompetence and restenosis with severe thrombosis of the artificial valve developed. There are no reasons to assume an inflammatory etiology. It must remain open if the fibroelastosis of the left ventricle was congenital. Its possible etiology - if it was also acquired - is discussed.