Abstracts of the 3rd Joint Meeting of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Degenerative forms of mitral valve diseases (MVDs) are complex pathologies. Thus, it is difficult to make generalizations about MVD pathways or genetic risk factors. However, a key role of metalloproteinases (MMPs) in their pathophysiology is emerging. Thus, we performed a study to assess eventual associations of some functional SNPs in MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes with MVD risk, symptom severity and short- and long-term (4.8 years) complications. Methods: For this purpose, 90 patients and two control groups were genotyped for MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene SNPs, and systemic levels of proatrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and two enzymes were quantified and correlated to the MMP-2 and MMP-9 SNPs…