Chemical analyses and X-ray diffraction investigations of human hydroxyapatite minerals from aortic valve stenoses

A total of 23 solid, mineral-like samples from calcified aortic valves of human origin have been investigated by means of classic analytical techniques (atomic absorption spectroscopy) and powder X-ray diffraction methods (Rietveld approach). The calcification goes back to hexagonal Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite, and there is a large variance in absolute hydroxyapatite contents as well as in crystalline qualities. The source of the calcium deficiency has been traced back to the 4f calcium site of the crystal structure in P63/m, and the calcium loss is compensated by hydroxy group deficiencies. Despite no correlation between analytically and diffractionally determined calcium contents, the crystallinities of the samples and the sharpnesses of their Bragg peaks seem to be related with the sub-occupancy of the 4f calcium site.