[Effect of glutaraldehyde preservation on the immunogenic, physicomechanical and functional parameters of aortic valve xenograft bioprostheses].

It was shown that during conservation of heart valve xenograft bioprostheses, with glutaraldehyde (GA) the reagent penetrated the tissue from a 0.625% solution in a greater amount than from 0.25 and 1% solutions. The treatment with a 0.625% solution of GA essentially decreased the sensitizing and anaphylactic activity of the prosthetic tissue and contributed to the tissue inertness in radial immunodiffusion with antiserum of immunized animals. Subsequent treatment of the tissue with a 4% GA promoted a further decrease of immunogenic properties of the xenogeneic tissue. GA conservation increased durability and limited pliability, which led to a mild stenotic effect revealed during prosthesis functioning in vitro. The optimal method of the conservation of the aortal bioprosthesis consists in its 4-week treatment with 0.625% GA and a three-fold change of the solutions followed by storage of the tissue in 4% formaldehyde.