Microscopic amyloid deposits in the heart valves: a common local complication of chronic damage and scarring.

The presence of amyloidosis was detected in 33 out of 213 (15.5%) mitral and aortic valves that had been surgically removed for chronic valvular disease. No correlation could be found with age or type of valvular disease, neither was there any clinical evidence of an associated generalised amyloidosis. Histologically, the amyloid deposits were microscopic and restricted to areas of dense scar tissue. No comparable alterations were found in 147 unaltered valves which served as controls. The term 'dystrophic' is proposed to describe this particular form of valvular amyloidosis.