Identification of Non-gal, Non-HLA Antigens in Patients Implanted With Xenogenic Material

This study involves collecting serum samples from patients presenting for aortic valve replacement at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Serum samples will be collected pre-op, between 2 weeks and 3 months, between 3-11 months (optional), and between 12-18 months post-operatively. The patients antibodies in these serum samples will be used to capture proteins from the same type of tissue their replacement heart valves are made from (i.e., bovine/porcine pericardium - a non-human tissue which is currently used to make glutaraldehyde-fixed heart valves). The captured proteins will be identified, and compared over time (i.e., 0, 1, 3 and 12 months) to determine which proteins (i.e., antigens) in bovine/porcine pericardium that the patient is mounting an immune response towards.