Anesthetic and ferric-magnesium ion combinations as calcium antagonists for glutaraldehyde-treated pericardial tissues.

The principal cause of the clinical failure of bioprosthetic heart valves fabricated from glutaraldehyde-pretreated bovine pericardial valves is calcification. The present investigation describes the mineralization of glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium (GBP), in an extra-circulatory environment and the possible methods of prevention via metal ions. Calcification was examined on GBP incubated in metastable solutions of calcium phosphate and the role of certain anesthetic drugs, ferric ions and magnesium ions in the media was evaluated. It seems that the addition of ethyl alcohol, pentothal and xylocaine in the calcium phosphate solutions, variably inhibited the GBP calcification. The metals like Fe3+ ions and Mg2+ ions and their combinations also substantially reduced the GBP mineralization. It is assumed that ferric ions may slow down or retard the calcification process by delaying the proper formation of hydroxyapatite while magnesium ions disrupt the growth of these crystals by replacing Ca2+. Hence, it is conceivable that a combination therapy--via local delivery of low levels of ferric ions and magnesium ions--may prevent the GBP-associated calcification. Further, a very low daily intake of alcohol appears to be beneficial to reduce the profile of calcium deposition at tissue interfaces.