title: Prognosis and risk factors in patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis and their modulation by atorvastatin (20 mg).
abstract: The aim of the prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled Tyrolean Aortic Stenosis Study (TASS) was to characterize the natural history and risk factors and their possible modulation by new-onset atorvastatin treatment (20 mg/day vs placebo) in patients with asymptomatic calcified aortic stenosis. Forty-seven patients without previous lipid-lowering therapy or indications for it according to guidelines at study entry were randomized to atorvastatin treatment or placebo and prospectively followed for a mean study period of 2.3 +/- 1.2 years. Patients' prognoses were worse than expected, with 24 (51%) experiencing major adverse clinical events, in most cases the new onset of symptoms followed by aortic valve replacement. In multivariate regression analysis, independent risk factors for worse clinical outcomes were aortic valve calcification, as assessed by multidetector computed tomography, and plasma levels of C-reactive protein. In univariate analysis, mean systolic pressure gradient or an increased N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide plasma level allowed the prediction of major adverse clinical events as well, whereas concomitant coronary calcification, age, and the initiation of atorvastatin treatment had no significant prognostic implication. As shown in a subgroup of 35 patients (19 randomly assigned to atorvastatin and 16 to placebo), annular progression in aortic valve calcification and hemodynamic deterioration were similar in both treatment groups. In conclusion, TASS could demonstrate a poor clinical outcome in patients with asymptomatic calcified aortic stenosis which can be predicted by new risk factors such as strong AVC or increased plasma levels of CRP or NT-proBNP. The study does not support the concept that treatment with a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (20 mg atorvastatin once daily) halts the progression of calcified aortic stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Cardiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. wolfgang.dichtl@uki.at
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dichtl
authors.forename: Hannes Franz
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Alber
authors.forename: Gudrun Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Feuchtner
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hintringer
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reinthaler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartel
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Süssenbacher
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grander
authors.forename: Hanno
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.forename: Otmar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pachinger
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011758:Pyrroles; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin