Calcific aortic stenosis: a complication of chronic uraemia

The incidence of aortic stenosis was studied in 174 consecutive patients aged less than 55 years at initiation of maintenance haemodialysis. Severe, calcific aortic stenosis developed in 6 patients a mean 9.7 years after starting haemodialysis (p = 0.0004 compared to population incidence). In 5 patients stenosis was due to severe premature calcification of a tricuspid aortic valve. Necropsy proven aortic valve calcification (with or without stenosis) was associated with an increased duration of haemodialysis, age greater than 35 years at starting dialysis and mitral annular calcification. There is an increased incidence of aortic stenosis in patients with chronic renal failure due to premature valvular calcification, which may be related to abnormal calcium and phosphate metabolism in uraemia.