title: Aortic valve sclerosis as a marker of active atherosclerosis.
abstract: Aortic sclerosis is a calcific disease of the aortic valvular leaflets defined as focal leaflet thickening without significant obstruction to left ventricular outflow. Several clinical factors are associated with calcific aortic valve disease, including male sex, smoking, hypertension, age, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. Histologic and biochemical studies suggest similarities between the mechanisms involved in the development of aortic sclerosis and atherosclerosis, suggesting these two diseases may share common pathophysiologic mechanisms. In a recent prospective trial, the presence of aortic sclerosis was associated with an approximately 50% increase in cardiovascular mortality and myocardial infarction, even after correction for age, gender, known coronary artery disease, and clinical factors associated with a aortic sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 356422, Seattle, WA 98195-6422, USA.
authors.forename: Kelley R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Branch
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Otto
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology