Paul A. Iaizzo • Richard W. Bianco
Alexander J. Hill • James D. St. Louis
Editors
2013
From Design to Clinical Implantation
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While the past 40 years have brought major progress in cardiac valve repair and replacement, there remain large patient populations that do not receive such therapies. This, in turn, implies a great need for future basic, applied, and clinical research and, ultimately, therapeutic developments.Even with major medical advances, everyday in the United States alone, thousands of patients die due to underlying valve pathologies. In this disease category, aortic valve replacement is the most common intervention, which was fi rst performed in the 1970s. To understand complex causes of valvular diseases in varied populations, the underlying mechanisms, and/or optimal therapies, the scienti fi c and medical communities face tremendous challenges, and this will require great effort and cooperation.