Table 1.
Patients characteristics, experimental analyses performed (SEM-EDS, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry; PXRD, powder X-ray diffraction; EMP, electron microprobe analysis; PLM, polarized light microscopy), and average content of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in different types of calcified valve. Ca and P contents are expressed as oxide-weight percent values and as atomic Ca : P ratio. Values are mean ± SD.
| Characteristic | Overall N = 36 |
Tricuspid aortic valve N = 29 |
Bicuspid aortic valve N = 3 |
Mitral valve N = 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y | 72.4 ± 10 | 74.5 ± 7.8 | 55 ± 15 | 69 ± 9 |
| Males | 25 (69.4%) | 20 (69%) | 3 (100%) | 2 (50%) |
| SEM-EDS | 20 (55.5%) | 13 (45%) | 3 (100%) | 4 (100%) |
| PXRD | 27 (75%) | 23 (79%) | 2 (66%) | 2 (50%) |
| EMP | 5 (14%) | 2 (7%) | 2 (66%) | 1 (25%) |
| PLM | 5 (14%) | 2 (7%) | 2 (66%) | 1 (25%) |
| CaO | 40 ± 5.7 | 44.3 ± 4.3 | 35.3 ± 8.2 | 40.7 ± 3.4 |
| P2O5 | 28.1 ± 4.2 | 30.85 ± 3.3 | 25 ± 6 | 28.85 ± 2.3 |
| Ca : P | 1.8 ± 0.08 | 1.82 ± 0.05 | 1.8 ± 0.105 | 1.78 ± 0.09 |