Research Article: Calcified Rheumatic Valve Neoangiogenesis Is Associated With Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression and Osteoblast-Like Bone Formation
Abstract
Background Rheumatic heart disease is the most common cause of valvular disease in developing countries. Despite the high prevalence of this disease, the cellular mechanisms are not well known. We hypothesized that rheumatic valve calcification is associated with an osteoblast bone formation and neoangiogenesis.
