Key result
Aging significantly increased the Young's modulus of marginal chordae and the structural stiffness of chordae (2.2 ± 0.2 kN/m old vs 2.0 ± 0.4 kN/m young, p<0.05) in porcine mitral valves.
May influence mitral valve durability in elderly patients; hypothesis-generating and leaves open human translation.
Young's modulus and structural stiffness were determined for chordae tendineae of the mitral valve from young (18–26 weeks) and old (over 2 years) porcine hearts. For chordae from the posterior leaflet of the valve, the Young's modulus values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the thinner marginal chordae (59 ± 31 MPa young; 88 ± 21 MPa old) than for the thicker basal chordae (31 ± 4 MPa young; 28 ± 9 MPa old). Marginal chordae (both anterior and posterior) had significantly higher (p < 0.05) value for their Young's modulus in old (88 ± 21 MPa anterior and posterior) than in young (62 ± 17 MPa anterior, 59 ± 18 MPa posterior) pig hearts. There was no significant difference in structural stiffness between marginal and basal (anterior and posterior leaflets) or between strut chordae (that are associated with anterior the leaflet only) and marginal and basal chordae. However, the value of structural stiffness of chordae was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for old (2.2 ± 0.2 kN/m) than for young (2.0 ± 0.4 kN/m) chordae. These results show that aging affects the properties of chordae and that all chordae need to be included in finite element models of valve function.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Millard et al. (2011) studied this question. Aging (old vs young) vs. Young pigs (18-26 weeks) was evaluated on Young's modulus and structural stiffness of chordae tendineae (p=< 0.05). Aging significantly increased the Young's modulus of marginal chordae and the structural stiffness of chordae (2.2 ± 0.2 kN/m old vs 2.0 ± 0.4 kN/m young, p<0.05) in porcine mitral valves.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: