Regenerative medicine approach to heart valve replacement.

Approximately 275 000 patients receive a heart valve replacement annually. Their choices and the choices of their surgeons are limited to either a metal valve replacement or a preserved (typically allogeneic or xenogeneic) tissue valve replacement. These patients are then subject to the morbidity associated with anticoagulation when mechanical valves are used or the limited durability of a biological prosthesis with the prospect of replacement surgery. An off-the-shelf heart valve with the durability of metal valves and the biocompatibility of biological valves would likely receive immediate and widespread acceptance.