[Etiopathogenic heterogeneity of mitral and aortic valve diseases. Clinico-pathological study].

This study comprises the evaluation of 120 surgically excised mitral and aortic valves, in an attempt to clearly define the nature of the underlying process. To this effect histopathological and clinical criteria were established and categorized in 4 levels of diagnostic accuracy for rheumatic fever. Ninety three percent of the mitral valves were recognized as probably or certainly rheumatic in origin, whereas only 38.4% of the aortic cases were classified in this category. Included is a discussion of the various etiopathogenic possibilities, other than rheumatic, regarding chronic valve deformities of the heart.