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Gać P, Jaworski A, Grajnert F, Kicman K, Trejtowicz-Sutor A, Witkowski K, Poręba M, Poręba R. Aortic Valve Calcium Score: Applications in Clinical Practice and Scientific Research-A Narrative Review. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4064. [PMID: 39064103 PMCID: PMC11277735 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13144064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this narrative review, we investigate the essential role played by the computed tomography Aortic Valve Calcium Score (AVCS) in the cardiovascular diagnostic landscape, with a special focus on its implications for clinical practice and scientific research. Calcific aortic valve stenosis is the most prevalent type of aortic stenosis (AS) in industrialized countries, and due to the aging population, its prevalence is increasing. While transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) remains the gold standard, AVCS stands out as an essential complementary tool in evaluating patients with AS. The advantage of AVCS is its independence from flow; this allows for a more precise evaluation of patients with discordant findings in TTE. Further clinical applications of AVCS include in the assessment of patients before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), as it helps in predicting outcomes and provides prognostic information post-TAVR. Additionally, we describe different AVCS thresholds regarding gender and the anatomical variations of the aortic valve. Finally, we discuss various scientific studies where AVCS was applied. As AVCS has some limitations, due to the pathophysiologies of AS extending beyond calcification and gender differences, scientists strive to validate contrast-enhanced AVCS. Furthermore, research on developing radiation-free methods of measuring calcium content is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Gać
- Centre of Diagnostic Imaging, 4th Military Hospital, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland; (P.G.); (A.T.-S.); (K.W.)
- Department of Population Health, Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 7, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Jaworski
- Healthcare Team “County Hospital” in Sochaczew, Batalionow Chlopskich 3/7, 96-500 Sochaczew, Poland
| | - Filip Grajnert
- 4th Military Hospital, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Kicman
- Healthcare Team “County Hospital” in Sochaczew, Batalionow Chlopskich 3/7, 96-500 Sochaczew, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Trejtowicz-Sutor
- Centre of Diagnostic Imaging, 4th Military Hospital, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland; (P.G.); (A.T.-S.); (K.W.)
| | - Konrad Witkowski
- Centre of Diagnostic Imaging, 4th Military Hospital, Rudolfa Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland; (P.G.); (A.T.-S.); (K.W.)
| | - Małgorzata Poręba
- Department of Paralympic Sports, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Witelona 25a, 51-617 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Rafał Poręba
- Department of Internal and Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland;
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Flores-Umanzor E, Cepas-Guillén P, Ruberti A, Regueiro A, Sanchis L, Gabani R, Rodés-Cabau J, Vidal B, Freixa X. Paravalvular leak closure after TAVI with plugs: A literature review with a specific focus on arterio-arterial loop. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2024. [PMID: 38984656 DOI: 10.1002/ccd.31145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
More than mild paravalvular leak (PVL) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is associated with a twofold increase in all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, and the need for reintervention. Successfully addressing PVL in TAVIs is more challenging than in surgical valves. The arterial-arterial (A-A) rail technique emerges as a valuable strategy for post-TAVI PVL closure, enhancing success rates by enabling the effective use of lower-profile vascular plug devices. When standard approach is ineffective, generating an A-A loop for post-TAVI PVL closure is probably the most recommended strategy to ensure procedural success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Flores-Umanzor
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pedro Cepas-Guillén
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Ruberti
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ander Regueiro
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Sanchis
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rami Gabani
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Rodés-Cabau
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Vidal
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Freixa
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Laohachewin D, Ruile P, Breitbart P, Minners J, Jander N, Soschynski M, Schlett CL, Neumann FJ, Westermann D, Hein M. Quantification of Aortic Valve Calcification in Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2386. [PMID: 38673658 PMCID: PMC11051576 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13082386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The goal of our study is to evaluate a method to quantify aortic valve calcification (AVC) in contrast-enhanced computed tomography for patients with suspected severe aortic stenosis pre-interventionally. Methods: A total of sixty-five patients with aortic stenosis underwent both a native and a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan of the aortic valve (45 in the training cohort and 20 in the validation cohort) using a standardized protocol. Aortic valve calcification was semi-automatically quantified via the Agatston score method for the native scans and was used as a reference. For contrast-enhanced computed tomography, a calcium threshold of the Hounsfield units of the aorta plus four times the standard deviation was used. Results: For the quantification of aortic valve calcification in contrast-enhanced computed tomography, a conversion formula (691 + 1.83 x AVCCECT) was derived via a linear regression model in the training cohort. The validation in the second cohort showed high agreement for this conversion formula with no significant proportional bias (Bland-Altman, p = 0.055) and with an intraclass correlation coefficient in the validation cohort of 0.915 (confidence interval 95% 0.786-0.966) p < 0.001. Conclusions: Calcium scoring in patients with aortic valve stenosis can be performed using contrast-enhanced computed tomography with high validity. Using a conversion factor led to an excellent agreement, thereby obviating an additional native computed tomography scan. This might contribute to a decrease in radiation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danai Laohachewin
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Suedring 15, 79189 Bad Krozingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ruile
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Suedring 15, 79189 Bad Krozingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Breitbart
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Suedring 15, 79189 Bad Krozingen, Germany
| | - Jan Minners
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Suedring 15, 79189 Bad Krozingen, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Jander
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Suedring 15, 79189 Bad Krozingen, Germany
| | - Martin Soschynski
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christopher L. Schlett
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Franz-Josef Neumann
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Suedring 15, 79189 Bad Krozingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Westermann
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Suedring 15, 79189 Bad Krozingen, Germany
| | - Manuel Hein
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Suedring 15, 79189 Bad Krozingen, Germany
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Ferrer-Sistach E, Teis A, Escabia C, Delgado V. Assessment of the Severity of Aortic Regurgitation by Noninvasive Imaging : Non-invasive MMI for AR. Curr Cardiol Rep 2024; 26:1-14. [PMID: 38091195 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-02011-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW The role of multimodality imaging in the evaluation of patients with aortic regurgitation is summarized in this review. RECENT FINDINGS The etiology (mechanism) of the aortic regurgitation and the severity of aortic regurgitation and hemodynamic consequences are key in the decision making of patients with severe aortic regurgitation. While echocardiography remains as the leading technique to assess all these parameters, other imaging techniques have become essential for the accurate assessment of aortic regurgitation severity and the timing of aortic intervention. The anatomic suitability of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in inoperable patients with severe aortic regurgitation is usually assessed with computed tomography. Aortic regurgitation is a prevalent disease with various pathophysiological mechanisms that need a personalized treatment. The evaluation of the mechanism and severity of aortic regurgitation can be initially performed with echocardiography. Three-dimensional techniques, including echocardiography, have become very relevant for accurate assessment of the regurgitation severity and its hemodynamic consequences. Assessment of myocardial tissue characteristics with cardiac magnetic resonance is key in the risk stratification of patients and in the timing of aortic intervention. Computed tomography is important in the assessment of aortic dimensions and selection of patients for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Ferrer-Sistach
- Heart Institute, University Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Carretera de Canyet S/N, 08916, Badalona, Spain
| | - Albert Teis
- Heart Institute, University Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Carretera de Canyet S/N, 08916, Badalona, Spain
| | - Claudia Escabia
- Heart Institute, University Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Carretera de Canyet S/N, 08916, Badalona, Spain
| | - Victoria Delgado
- Heart Institute, University Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Carretera de Canyet S/N, 08916, Badalona, Spain.
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Bioimaging (CMCIB), Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain.
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