Histopathological studies of connective tissue in patients with acquired valvular heart disease.

Tissue samples taken during a surgical procedure performed for therapeutic reasons in 27 patients with acquired valvular heart disease (a.v.h.d.) were subjected to histopathological examinations. The aim of the work was to carry out simultaneous studies of several organs in the same patients. The samples were taken from: left heart auricle (15 cases), heart valves (15 cases), palatine tonsils (10 cases), subcutaneous tissue (14 cases) and periodontium (9 cases). Out of the total number of 27 cases samples from 5 organs of the same person were examined once, from 4 organs twice, from 3 organs twelve times, and from 2 organs fifteen times. In 90% of cases marked qualitative and quantitative compatibility between histopathological pictures of connective tissue changes was found. These changes consisted in an increased number of collagen fibres and hyalization of connective tissue. The authors conclude that infective endocarditis could be in connection of a primary general collagenopathy.