Collagen content in the heart of patients operated on for valvular heart disease caused mainly by infective endocarditis.

Collagen from tissues of the heart valve, the wall of the left auricle, palatine tonsils and periodontium was studied. The material was taken during surgical procedures, performed for therapeutic reasons, in patients with acquired valvular heart disease (avhd) and congenital heart disease. The obtained results pertain to the content of total collagen as well as to its soluble and insoluble fractions. An increase of the soluble collagen fraction, as compared to the insoluble one, provides support for collagen degradation, and this fact has prompted the authors to conclude that collagen plays a part in the etiopathogenesis of a.v.h.d. The authors suggest that estimation of collagen metabolites, and the amount of soluble collagen in tissues, and particularly in palatine tonsils, may be helpful in identifying persons susceptible to a.v.h.d.