[Morphological study of the heart valves formed from the fascia lata femoris after their implantation because of a rheumatic defect].

Pathological anatomy of grafting artificial heart valves formed of the broad fascia of the hip in 5 patients was studied. The fate of a transplant depended upon conditions of its adaptation on a new place. In the case of an unfavourable outcome of transplantation there were observed decomposition of the connective-tissue fibres with degradation of collagen, their decomposition with formation of lacunes, inflammatory reactions, vascularization of the transplant and sclerosis thereof, which, all together, brought about deformation of a new valve. It was suggested that dystrophic and autoimmune mechanisms of destruction of the transplanted tissue were involved.