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Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis and Atherosclerotic Calcification

Current Atherosclerosis Reports volume 22, Article number: 2 (2020) Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review summarizes the pathophysiology of calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) and surveys relevant clinical data and basic research that explain how CAVS arises.

Recent Findings

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), oxidized phospholipids (OxPL), autotaxin, and genetic driving forces such as mutations in LPA gene and NOTCH gene seem to play a major role in the development of CAVS. These factors might well become targets of medical therapy in the coming years.

Summary

CVAS seems to be a multifactorial disease that has much in common with coronary artery disease, mainly regarding lipidic accumulation and calcium deposition. No clinical trials conducted to date have managed to answer the key question of whether Lp(a) lowering and anti-calcific therapies confer a benefit in terms of reducing incidence or progression of CAVS, although additional outcome trials are ongoing.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco, PROCAPE, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira n°4172. Edf. Paquetá, apt° 405, Recife, Pernambuco, 51021-040, Brazil

    Michel Pompeu Barros de Oliveira Sá, Luiz Rafael P. Cavalcanti, Álvaro M. Perazzo, Rafael A. F. Gomes & Ricardo Carvalho Lima

  2. University of Pernambuco, UPE, Recife, Brazil

    Michel Pompeu Barros de Oliveira Sá, Luiz Rafael P. Cavalcanti, Álvaro M. Perazzo, Rafael A. F. Gomes & Ricardo Carvalho Lima

  3. Nucleus of Postgraduate and Research in Health Sciences of Faculty of Medical Sciences and Biological Sciences Instituite, FCM/ICB, Recife, Brazil

    Michel Pompeu Barros de Oliveira Sá, Rafael A. F. Gomes & Ricardo Carvalho Lima

  4. Québec Heart and Lung Institute/Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, 2725 Chemin Sainte Foy, #A-2075, Quebec, QC, G1V4G5, Canada

    Marie-Annick Clavel & Philippe Pibarot

  5. Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy

    Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai

  6. Mediterranea Cardiocentro, Naples, Italy

    Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai

  7. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

    Konstantin Zhigalov, Alexander Weymann & Arjang Ruhparwar

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  1. Michel Pompeu Barros de Oliveira Sá
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  2. Luiz Rafael P. Cavalcanti
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Correspondence to Michel Pompeu Barros de Oliveira Sá.

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All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki Declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).

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de Oliveira Sá, M.P.B., Cavalcanti, L.R.P., Perazzo, Á.M. et al. Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis and Atherosclerotic Calcification. Curr Atheroscler Rep 22, 2 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-020-0821-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-020-0821-7

Keywords

  • Aortic valve stenosis
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Calcific aortic stenosis
  • Vascular calcification