[Immunological indices in acquired heart defects after heart valve replacement with bioprostheses]

The indices of cellular and humoral immunity were studied in 46 patients with heart diseases of rheumatic origin prior to and alter operation for replacement of the heart valves with synthetic prostheses (in 19) and pig aortic valves treated with glutaraldehyde and methaperiodate solutions ater Karpantje (in 27). The indirect fluorescence method and the leukocyte migration inhibition test to the myocardial antigens showed that the operation for valve prosthetics causes an increase in the content of antibodies and activation of specific leukocyte sensitization to the antigens of the myocardium and heart valves. These changes do not depend on the type of the valve prosthesis and are normalized by the 6th month. The activation of immunological processes encountered in some patients in late periods after the operation (1-8 years) corresponded to an aggravation of their clinical condition which in most cases was not associated with impaired functioning of the biological prosthesis. The implantation of xenogenous valve prostheses treated by Karpantje's method did not cause the development of immunological processes which could have induced destruction of the prostheses.