title: Prevalence of atherosclerosis of the coronary and extracranial cerebral arteries in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for calcified stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aim was to investigate the coexistence of various atherosclerotic changes in patients with non-rheumatic calcific aortic valve stenosis (AS), since calcific AS shares various clinical risk factors with atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 282 consecutive patients with severe calcific stenosis of a tricuspid aortic valve scheduled for aortic valve replacement, the prevalence of atherosclerotic changes of the coronary and extracranial cerebral arteries were assessed using coronary angiography and Doppler sonography, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The severities of coronary and extracranial cerebral artery atherosclerosis were significantly associated (p = 0.005). The prevalence and severity of both coronary and extracranial cerebral artery atherosclerosis were age-dependent. Coronary or extracranial cerebral artery stenosis was present in 59% and 16% of patients, respectively, while 91% of the study population and all patients aged > 80 years showed atherosclerosis of the coronary and/or extracranial cerebral arteries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data obtained indicated a very high prevalence of atherosclerotic changes in patients with calcific AS, suggesting pathogenetic similarities of both disorders. Routine screening of the extracranial cerebral arteries is warranted in all patients with calcific AS and scheduled for valve replacement.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Medicine (Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology), Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kaden
authors.forename: Joachim P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: Tudor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poerner
authors.forename: Dariusch
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haghi
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borggrefe
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pillich
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harrar-Haag
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kosinski
authors.forename: Jan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ortlepp
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging