Osteogenesis of heart valves – An immune mediated Rheumatic inflammation

Mineralization is the hardening of the valve due to the deposition of calcium salts resulting osteogenesis as bone formation. Any valve can become calcified. However, calcification is more likely to affect the valves on the left side of the heart (mitral and aortic valves) since they experience greater pressure, and more wear-and-tear damage. Calcification earlier in life was seen in severely damaged valves by the rheumatic process and therapeutic strategies are targeted to reverse this process by understanding its biological mediators.