title: Assessment of the Relationship Between Serum Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (VAP-1) and Severity of Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1), a dual-function glycoprotein, is secreted by endothelial cells, adipocytes, and kidney and vascular smooth muscle cells. It has been reported to participate in the development of atherosclerosis as an adhesion molecule and a pro-inflammatory enzyme. Increased VAP-1 levels are related to type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, stroke and chronic renal failure. The study aim was to investigate serum VAP-1 levels in patients with calcific aortic stenosis (AS) and the possible relationship between VAP-1 and severity of calcific AS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 168 patients was categorized as having mild (n = 54), moderate (n = 58), or severe (n = 56) AS. Serum VAP-1 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum VAP-1 level was significantly higher in patients with AS compared to healthy controls (244.3 ± 50.1 ng/ml versus 149.8 ± 27.5 ng/ml, p <0.001), and in the severe AS group compared to the moderate and mild AS groups (288.3 ± 30.1 ng/ml, 243.1 ± 31.8 ng/ml, and 200.8 ± 43.2 ng/ml, respectively, p <0.001). The VAP-1 level was positively related to the maximum aortic gradient, mean aortic gradient, and maximum aortic jet velocity (r = 0.649, p <0.001; r = 0.660, p <0.001; r = 0.655, p <0.001, respectively) and negatively related to the aortic valve area (r = -0.683, p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study was the first to demonstrate a significant relationship between increased serum VAP-1 levels and the severity of calcific AS. VAP-1 might be a useful biomarker for the evaluation of AS and the follow up of its severity.
authors.affiliation: Rize Kackar Government Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Rize.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Altug Cakmak
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erturk
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Vesile
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ornek
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodi Tosu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kemal Kalkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tasbulak
authors.affiliation: Bahcelievler Government Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yalcin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gul