title: Histopathology of calcific aortic valve stenosis.
abstract: Calcific aortic valve stenosis is the most common and increasing heart valve disease in the western world. In the last 30 years, diagnosis and management were revolutionized by the development of cardiac catheterisation, echocardiography, cardiac surgery, and medication. Recently, new strategies were introduced for aortic valve replacement using more sophisticated bioprosthetic heart valves. Moreover, tissue-engineered heart valves are under development to improve management strategies. In this article we review the current morphological and histopathological findings in the progression of calcific aortic valve stenosis. This is, to our understanding, important to contribute to the knowledge of fundamental management strategies of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Middelheim Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Somers
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knaapen
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mistiaen
mesh_terms: D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016923:Cell Death; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans