Mitral and aortic valve abnormalities in a patient with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva

A 36-yr-old female with a 20-yr history of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) died as the result of ruptured gastric ulcers. The patient had been treated with disodium ethane-l-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP). Post mortem there was thickening of the aortic valve cusps and mitral valve leaflets as well as shortening and thickening of the chordae tendineae of the mitral valve. This is a previously unreported association.