[Treatment with statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in degenerative aortic stenosis--an up-date].
Degenerative aortic stenosis (AoS) is the most common valvular disease in adults; that's why, the aortic valve replacement is one of the most frequent cardiac surgical procedures. The etiology of degenerative AoS is actually well known, the primary lesion being aortic sclerosis. Aortic sclerosis shares many pathological features and risk factors with atherosclerosis and, because atherosclerosis may be prevented and/or reversed by cholesterol lowering, there has been postulated that cholesterol lowering therapy using statin drugs could modify the course of aortic sclerosis/stenosis. Some studies also demonstrated the implication of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the degenerative aortic disease, and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors could also be used to delayed or even reverse the evolution of Ao sclerosis/stenosis. The paper reviews the latest literature date about the definition and prevalence of aortic sclerosis and stenosis as well as medical treatment of degenerative AoS.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with statins has not proved effective in preventing the progression of lesions valves but have an important role in patients with associated coronary artery disease. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors does not influence the progression of lesions valves, but may play a role in cardiac remodeling.
Moldovanu
Cătălina Maria
CM
Clinica a III-a Medicală, Facultatea de Medicină, Universitatea de Medicină si Framcie "Gr.T. Popa" Iaşi.
Pandele
G I
GI
Ambăruş
V
V
Ionescu
Simona
S
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors