Presence of heterotopic bone in the aortic valve in the mare – a case report

Abstract

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common reason for valve replacement surgery in elderly people. CAVD is a slowly progressive disorder ranging from a mild aortic sclerosis to a more severe aortic stenosis. This article describes a case of heterotopic ossification in the aortic valve accidentally found at necropsy of presumably healthy 21-year-old mare euthanized for reasons unrelated to the cardiovascular system. Histopathological examination confirmed mature lamellar bone in the aortic valve area. To our best knowledge, heterotopic ossification of the aortic valve is a rare condition in horses and it has been reported in only two cases.