title: Calcific aortic valve disease should not be considered as a degenerative disease anymore.
abstract: Calcific aortic valve disease is common among the elderly. Until recently, the concept that calcific aortic valve disease is a degenerative and unmodifiable process basically induced by long-lasting mechanical stress was generally accepted. However calcific aortic valve disease is not merely related to age-associated "wear and tear". The development and progression of calcific aortic valve disease are based on an active process that shares a number of similarities with atherosclerosis. Statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have been shown to slow calcium accumulation in aortic valves. Thus, calcific aortic valve disease should not be considered as a degenerative disease anymore.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Cheng Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qi Zhu
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Cong Xin
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors