1 million heart valves a year to help patients

by time news

Between North America and Europe about 450,000 biological heart prostheses are implanted per year and by 2050 it is expected that about a million will be implanted, due to the aging of the population and the increase in diseases due to lifestyle changes .

Bacterial infections are one of the contributing causes to the premature degeneration of heart valve substitutes. The incidence of the onset of endocarditis in the western world of biological valves is estimated to be around 5% -8% and is closely related to episodes of embolism, stroke, persistent bacteremia and patient death. The overt presence of bacterial infection is treated with targeted antibiotic therapy but, when prolonged antibiotic treatment is not sufficient, replacement of the surgical valve colonized by bacteria is necessary.

Surgery is currently performed in 50-60% of patients with 6-month survival rates of 80%. Despite the notable improvements in diagnosis and the ever higher safety standards of surgical interventions, mortality at one year has remained almost unchanged in the last two decades (around 10% of cases of full-blown infection).

In Italy, a biotechnological solution has been developed that prevents biological heart valve infection. The discovery is the result of a study conducted by BCI-Biocompatibility Innovation, a company of young biologists and researchers born in Este, in the province of Padua, which does research in Italy.

The “recipe”, as they like to define it, considering the numbers is destined to have a decisive impact both from a health and economic-social point of view.

The scientific board of the project is of the highest level and is made up of internationally renowned heart surgeons such as Massimo Massetti, Ivan Vesely, Piergiorgio Bruno, Sotirios Korossis, Michele Spina and Enrico Pasquino.

“Our technology – says Filippo Naso, BCI Ctio – has proven effective in counteracting the adhesive capacity of bacteria on the surface of the prosthesis, preventing colonization and counteracting the development of endocarditis at the root”.

“But not only – continues Naso – our recipe prevents calcifications of the valves, calcifications that occur in 50% of biological prostheses and lead to replacement on average 10/12 years after implantation. With BCI technology, the duration of the prosthesis doubles, reaching 20 years “.

The eyes of large American and Chinese multinationals have now settled on the “Made in Italy” recipe. “As mentioned – explains Alessandro Gandaglia, CEO of BCI – in the West the social costs with respect to the treatment of these pathologies are very important for the health system, about 14 billion / year and are destined to further increase. With our technology, by extending the duration of the valve, we have estimated that we would be able to reduce these social costs by about 25%, reducing the number of re-operations to remove a valve that has already been implanted and has become dysfunctional “.

You may also like

Leave a Comment