Determinants of occurrence of aortic sclerosis in an aging population.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to identify clinical, physiological, and biochemical correlates, including markers of endothelial dysfunction and of tissue nitric oxide (NO) responsiveness, of the presence of aortic sclerosis (ASc) in an aging population.


BACKGROUND
Aortic sclerosis has been regarded predominantly as a precursor of hemodynamically significant aortic stenosis. However, ASc also represents an independent correlate of increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; the basis of this association is incompletely understood. The assumption that the pathogenesis of aortic valve disease is similar to that of atherosclerosis has not been supported by recent studies; rather there has been increasing evidence of a pathogenetic role of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, we have recently developed methodology for echocardiographic quantitation of early aortic valve disease.


METHODS
Randomly selected subjects (n = 253) ages 51 to 77 years underwent transthoracic echocardiography; aortic valve ultrasonic backscatter score (AV(BS)) was used to quantitate echogenicity of the aortic valve. Conventional coronary risk factors were identified. Integrity of NO generation/response was assessed via: 1) plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations, as a marker of endothelial dysfunction; 2) inhibition of platelet aggregation by the NO donor sodium nitroprusside, as a measure of tissue NO responsiveness and also a coronary prognostic marker; and 3) aortic augmentation index, as a measure of arterial stiffness/wave reflection. All putative correlations with AV(BS) were examined by univariate and multiple linear regression analyses.


RESULTS
On the basis of AV(BS) scores, ASc was present in 19.4% of subjects. The AV(BS) directly correlated with patients' age but inversely correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, creatinine clearance, and platelet NO responsiveness. On multiple linear regression, ASc was associated with impaired platelet NO responsiveness (beta = -0.16, p = 0.02), advancing age (beta = 0.21, p = 0.003), and low body mass index (beta = -0.23, p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Aortic sclerosis is associated with platelet NO resistance rather than conventional coronary risk factors: this might explain the increased thrombotic risk in ASc.
Ngo
Doan T M
DT
University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Sverdlov
Aaron L
AL
Willoughby
Scott R
SR
Nightingale
Angus K
AK
Chirkov
Yuliy Y
YY
McNeil
John J
JJ
Horowitz
John D
JD
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004548:Elasticity; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012598:Sclerosis
D015415:Biomarkers; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine