Valve Calcification in Aortic Stenosis: Etiology and Diagnostic Imaging Techniques

Oxidative stress and valvular endothelial cells in aortic valve calcification

Calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a common cardiovascular disease in elderly individuals. Although it was previously considered a degenerative disease, it is, in fact, a progressive disease involving multiple mechanisms. Aortic valve endothelial cells, which cover the outermost layer of the aortic valve and are directly exposed to various pathogenic factors, play a significant role in the onset and progression of CAVD. Hemodynamic changes can directly damage the structure and function of valvular endothelial cells (VECs). This leads to inflammatory infiltration and oxidative stress, which promote the progression of CAVD. VECs can regulate the pathological differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) through NO and thus affect the process of CAVD. Under the influence of pathological factors, VECs can also be transformed into VICs through EndMT, and then the pathological differentiation of VICs eventually leads to the formation of calcification. This review discusses the role of VECs, especially the role of oxidative stress in VECs, in the process of aortic valve calcification.

3D histopathology of stenotic aortic valve cusps using ex vivo microfocus computed tomography

Background

Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent heart valve disease in developed countries. The aortic valve cusps progressively thicken and the valve does not open fully due to the presence of calcifications. In vivo imaging, usually used for diagnosis, does not allow the visualization of the microstructural changes associated with AS.

Methods

Ex vivo high-resolution microfocus computed tomography (microCT) was used to quantitatively describe the microstructure of calcified aortic valve cusps in full 3D. As case study in our work, this quantitative analysis was applied to normal-flow low-gradient severe AS (NF-LG-SAS), for which the medical prognostic is still highly debated in the current literature, and high-gradient severe AS (HG-SAS).

Results

The volume proportion of calcification, the size and number of calcified particles and their density composition was quantified. A new size-based classification considering small-sized particles that are not detected with in vivo imaging was defined for macro-, meso- and microscale calcifications. Volume and thickness of aortic valve cusps, including the complete thickness distribution, were also determined. Moreover, changes in the cusp soft tissues were also visualized with microCT and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy images of the same sample. NF-LG-SAS cusps contained lower relative amount of calcifications than HG-SAS. Moreover, the number and size of calcified objects and the volume and thickness of the cusps were also lower in NF-LG-SAS cusps than in HG-SAS.

Conclusions

The application of high-resolution ex vivo microCT to stenotic aortic valve cusps provided a quantitative description of the general structure of the cusps and of the calcifications present in the cusp soft tissues. This detailed description could help in the future to better understand the mechanisms of AS.

An ultrasound-exclusive non-invasive computational diagnostic framework for personalized cardiology of aortic valve stenosis

Aortic stenosis (AS) is an acute and chronic cardiovascular disease and If left untreated, 50% of these patients will die within two years of developing symptoms. AS is characterized as the stiffening of the aortic valve leaflets which restricts their motion and prevents the proper opening under transvalvular pressure. Assessments of the valve dynamics, if available, would provide valuable information about the patient's state of cardiac deterioration as well as heart recovery and can have incredible impacts on patient care, planning interventions and making critical clinical decisions with life-threatening risks. Despite remarkable advancements in medical imaging, there are no clinical tools available to quantify valve dynamics invasively or noninvasively. In this study, we developed a highly innovative ultrasound-based non-invasive computational framework that can function as a diagnostic tool to assess valve dynamics (e.g. transient 3-D distribution of stress and displacement, 3-D deformed shape of leaflets, geometric orifice area and angular positions of leaflets) for patients with AS at no risk to the patients. Such a diagnostic tool considers the local valve dynamics and the global circulatory system to provide a platform for testing the intervention scenarios and evaluating their effects. We used clinical data of 12 patients with AS not only to validate the proposed framework but also to demonstrate its diagnostic abilities by providing novel analyses and interpretations of clinical data in both pre and post intervention states. We used transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) data for the developments and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) data for validation.

Sex-and race-specific burden of aortic valve calcification among older adults without overt coronary heart disease: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The prevalence of aortic valve calcification (AVC) increases with age. However, the sex-and race-specific burden of AVC and associated cardiovascular risk factors among adults ≥75 years are not well studied.

METHODS

We calculated the sex-and race-specific burden of AVC among 2283 older Black and White adults (mean age:80.5 [SD:4.3] years) without overt coronary heart disease from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study who underwent non-contrast cardiac-gated CT-imaging at visit 7 (2018-2019). Using Poisson regression with robust variance, we calculated the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of the association of AVC with cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS

The overall AVC prevalence was 44.8%, with White males having the highest prevalence at 58.2%. The prevalence was similar for Black males (40.5%), White females (38.9%), and Black females (36.8%). AVC prevalence increased significantly with age among all race-sex groups. The probability of any AVC at age 80 years was 55.4%, 40.0%, 37.3%, and 36.2% for White males, Black males, White females, and Black females, respectively. Among persons with prevalent AVC, White males had the highest median AVC score (100.9 Agatston Units [AU]), followed by Black males (68.5AU), White females (52.3AU), and Black females (46.5AU). After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, Black males (aPR:0.53; 95%CI:0.33-0.83), White females (aPR:0.68; 95%CI:0.61-0.77), and Black females (aPR:0.49; 95%CI:0.31-0.77) had lower AVC prevalence compared to White males. In addition, systolic blood pressure, non-HDL-cholesterol, and lipoprotein (a) were independently associated with AVC, with no significant race/sex interactions.

CONCLUSIONS

AVC, although highly prevalent, was not universally present in this cohort of older adults. White males had ∼50-60% higher prevalence than other race-sex groups. Moreover, cardiovascular risk factors measured in older age showed significant association with AVC.

Prioritization of Candidate Biomarkers for Degenerative Aortic Stenosis through a Systems Biology-Based In-Silico Approach

Degenerative aortic stenosis is the most common valve disease in the elderly and is usually confirmed at an advanced stage when the only treatment is surgery. This work is focused on the study of previously defined biomarkers through systems biology and artificial neuronal networks to understand their potential role within aortic stenosis. The goal was generating a molecular panel of biomarkers to ensure an accurate diagnosis, risk stratification, and follow-up of aortic stenosis patients. We used in silico studies to combine and re-analyze the results of our previous studies and, with information from multiple databases, established a mathematical model. After this, we prioritized two proteins related to endoplasmic reticulum stress, thrombospondin-1 and endoplasmin, which have not been previously validated as markers for aortic stenosis, and analyzed them in a cell model and in plasma from human subjects. Large-scale bioinformatics tools allow us to extract the most significant results after using high throughput analytical techniques. Our results could help to prevent the development of aortic stenosis and open the possibility of a future strategy based on more specific therapies.

Pathogenesis and Molecular Immune Mechanism of Calcified Aortic Valve Disease

Calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD) was previously regarded as a passive process associated with valve degeneration and calcium deposition. However, recent studies have shown that the occurrence of CAVD is an active process involving complex changes such as endothelial injury, chronic inflammation, matrix remodeling, and neovascularization. CAVD is the ectopic accumulation of calcium nodules on the surface of the aortic valve, which leads to aortic valve thickening, functional stenosis, and ultimately hemodynamic disorders. CAVD has become an important cause of death from cardiovascular disease. The discovery of therapeutic targets to delay or block the progression of CAVD and the clinical application of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of CAVD. This article summarizes the pathogenesis of CAVD and provides insight into the future directions of CAVD diagnosis and treatment.

The role of inflammation and metabolic risk factors in the pathogenesis of calcific aortic valve stenosis

Given the epidemiologic increase of aged population in the world, aortic stenosis (AS) represents now the most common valvular heart disease in industrialized countries. It is a very challenging disease, representing an important cause of morbidity, hospitalization and death in the elderly population. It is widely recognized that AS is the result of a very complex active process, driven by inflammation and involving multifactorial pathological mechanisms promoting valvular calcification and valvular bone deposition. Several evidence suggest that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), the visceral fat depot of the heart, represents a direct source of cytokines and could mediate the deleterious effects of systemic inflammation on the myocardium. Importantly, obesity and metabolic disorders are associated with chronic systemic inflammation leading to a significant increase of EAT amount and to a pro-inflammatory phenotypic shift of this fat depot. It has been hypothesized that the EAT inflammatory state can influence the structure and function of the heart, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of several cardiac diseases, including calcific AS. The current review will discuss the recently discovered mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AS, with particular attention to the role of inflammation, metabolic risk factors and pro-fibrotic and pro-osteogenic signal pathways promoting the onset and progression of the disease. Moreover, it will be explored the potential role of EAT in the AS pathophysiology.

Label-Free Multiphoton Microscopy for the Detection and Monitoring of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common valvular heart disease. CAVD results in a considerable socio-economic burden, especially considering the aging population in Europe and North America. The only treatment standard is surgical valve replacement as early diagnostic, mitigation, and drug strategies remain underdeveloped. Novel diagnostic techniques and biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of CAVD progression are thus a pressing need. Additionally, non-destructive tools are required for longitudinal in vitro and in vivo assessment of CAVD initiation and progression that can be translated into clinical practice in the future. Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) facilitates label-free and non-destructive imaging to obtain quantitative, optical biomarkers that have been shown to correlate with key events during CAVD progression. MPM can also be used to obtain spatiotemporal readouts of metabolic changes that occur in the cells. While cellular metabolism has been extensively explored for various cardiovascular disorders like atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure, and has shown potential in elucidating key pathophysiological processes in heart valve diseases, it has yet to gain traction in the study of CAVD. Furthermore, MPM also provides structural, functional, and metabolic readouts that have the potential to correlate with key pathophysiological events in CAVD progression. This review outlines the applicability of MPM and its derived quantitative metrics for the detection and monitoring of early CAVD progression. The review will further focus on the MPM-detectable metabolic biomarkers that correlate with key biological events during valve pathogenesis and their potential role in assessing CAVD pathophysiology.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the SAPIEN 3 transcatheter aortic valve implant in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Transcatheter aortic valve implant has become a widely accepted treatment for inoperable patients with aortic stenosis and patients at high surgical risk. Its indications have recently been expanded to include patients at intermediate and low surgical risk. Our aim was to evaluate the efficiency of SAPIEN 3 vs conservative medical treatment (CMT) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in symptomatic inoperable patients at high or intermediate risk.

METHODS

We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of SAPIEN 3 vs SAVR/CMT, using a Markov model (monthly cycles) with 8 states defined by the New York Heart Association and a time horizon of 15 years, including major complications and management after hospital discharge, from the perspective of the National Health System. Effectiveness parameters were based on the PARTNER trials. Costs related to the procedure, hospitalization, complications, and follow-up were included (euros in 2019). An annual discount rate of 3% was applied to both costs and benefits. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (Monte Carlo) were performed.

RESULTS

Compared with SAVR (high and intermediate risk) and CMT (inoperable), SAPIEN 3 showed better clinical results in the 3 populations and lower hospital stay. Incremental cost-utility ratios (€/quality-adjusted life years gained) were 5471 (high risk), 8119 (intermediate risk) and 9948 (inoperable), respectively. In the probabilistic analysis, SAPIEN 3 was cost-effective in more than 75% of the simulations in the 3 profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

In our health system, SAPIEN 3 facilitates efficient management of severe aortic stenosis in inoperable and high- and intermediate-risk patients.

Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease: Diversity in the Vessel Wall

Vascular calcification (VC) is one of the major causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). VC is a complex process expressing similarity to bone metabolism in onset and progression. VC in CKD is promoted by various factors not limited to hyperphosphatemia, Ca/Pi imbalance, uremic toxins, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and activation of multiple signaling pathways in different cell types, including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), macrophages, and endothelial cells. In the current review, we provide an in-depth analysis of the various kinds of VC, the clinical significance and available therapies, significant contributions from multiple cell types, and the associated cellular and molecular mechanisms for the VC process in the setting of CKD. Thus, we seek to highlight the key factors and cell types driving the pathology of VC in CKD in order to assist in the identification of preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies for patients burdened with this disease.

Valvular heart disease and calcification in CKD: more common than appreciated

Ischaemic heart disease, sudden cardiac death and arrhythmias, heart failure, stroke and peripheral arterial disease make up >50% of the causes of death in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Calcification of the vascular tree and heart valves is partially related to these complications and has received growing attention in the literature. However, the main focus of research has been on the pathophysiology and consequences of vascular calcification, with less attention being paid to valvular calcification (VC) and its impact on the survival of CKD patients. Although VC has long been seen as an age-related degenerative disorder with minimal functional impact, several studies proved that it carries an increased risk of death and clinical consequences different from those of vascular calcification. In dialysis patients, the annual incidence of aortic valve calcification is nearly 3.3% and the reported prevalence of aortic and mitral VC varies between 25% and 59%. Moreover, calcification of both valves occurs 10-20 years earlier in CKD patients compared with the general population. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the pathophysiology and relevance of VC in CKD patients, and to highlight specific clinical consequences and potential therapeutic implications.

Label-free optical biomarkers detect early calcific aortic valve disease in a wild-type mouse model

Background

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) pathophysiology is a complex, multistage process, usually diagnosed at advanced stages after significant anatomical and hemodynamic changes in the valve. Early detection of disease progression is thus pivotal in the development of prevention and mitigation strategies. In this study, we developed a diet-based, non-genetically modified mouse model for early CAVD progression, and explored the utility of two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy for early detection of CAVD progression. TPEF imaging provides label-free, non-invasive, quantitative metrics with the potential to correlate with multiple stages of CAVD pathophysiology including calcium deposition, collagen remodeling and osteogenic differentiation.

Methods

Twenty-week old C57BL/6J mice were fed either a control or pro-calcific diet for 16 weeks and monitored via echocardiography, histology, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative polarized light imaging. Additionally, TPEF imaging was used to quantify tissue autofluorescence (A) at 755 nm, 810 nm and 860 nm excitation, to calculate TPEF 755–860 ratio (A_860/525/(A_755/460 + A_860/525)) and TPEF Collagen-Calcium ratio (A_810/525/(A_810/460 + A_810/525)) in the murine valves. In a separate experiment, animals were fed the above diets till 28 weeks to assess for later-stage calcification.

Results

Pro-calcific mice showed evidence of lipid deposition at 4 weeks and calcification at 16 weeks at the valve commissures. The valves of pro-calcific mice also showed positive expression for markers of osteogenic differentiation, myofibroblast activation, proliferation, inflammatory cytokines and collagen remodeling. Pro-calcific mice exhibited lower TPEF autofluorescence ratios, at locations coincident with calcification, that correlated with increased collagen disorganization and positive expression of osteogenic markers. Additionally, locations with lower TPEF autofluorescence ratios at 4 and 16 weeks exhibited increased calcification at later 28-week timepoints.

Conclusions

This study suggests the potential of TPEF autofluorescence metrics to serve as a label-free tool for early detection and monitoring of CAVD pathophysiology.

Impact of chronic kidney disease on long-term outcome of patients with valvular heart defects

INTRODUCTION

Valvular heart diseases (VHD) are becoming a significant problem in the Polish population. Coexistence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with VHD increases the risk of death and affects further therapeutic strategy.

AIM

Analysis impact of CKD on long-term prognosis in patients with VHD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The inclusion criteria were met by 1025 patients with moderate and severe VHD. Mean observation time was 2528 ± 1454 days.

RESULTS

The average age of the studied population was 66.75 (SD = 10.34), male gender was dominant 56% (N = 579). Severe aortic valve stenosis (AVS) occurred in 28.2%, severe mitral valve insufficiency (MVI) in 20%. CKD occurred in 37.1% (N = 380) patients mostly with mitral stenosis (50%, N = 16) and those with severe MVI (44.8%, N = 94). During the observational period, 52.7% (N = 540) deaths were noted. Increased risk of mortality was associated mostly with age (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.03, p < 0.001), creatinine (OR:1.27, 95% CI: 1.12-1.43, p < 0.001), CKD (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.17-1.44, p < 0.001), reduced ejection fraction (EF) (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-0.99, p = 0.01) and coexisting of AVS (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.04-1.35, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Mitral valve defects more often than aortic valve defects coexist with chronic kidney disease. Regardless of the stage, chronic kidney disease is an additional factor affecting the prognosis in patients with heart defects. Factors increasing the risk of death were age, creatinine concentration and reduced EF. The monitoring of renal function in patients with VHD should be crucial as well as the implementation of treatment at an early stage.

Cardiovascular imaging modalities in the diagnosis and management of rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, where the capacity for diagnosis and evaluation of disease severity and complications is not always optimal. While the medical history and physical examination are important in the assessment of patients suspected to have RHD, cardiovascular imaging techniques are useful for confirmation of the diagnosis. Echocardiography is the workhorse modality for initial evaluation and diagnosis of RHD. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance is complementary and may provide additive information, including tissue characteristics, where echocardiography is inadequate or non-diagnostic. There is emerging evidence on the role of computed tomography, particularly following valve replacement surgery, in the monitoring and management of RHD. This article summarises the techniques used in imaging RHD patients, considers the evidence base for their utility, discusses their limitations and recognises the clinical contexts in which indications and imaging with various modalities are expanding.

Oscillatory fluid-induced mechanobiology in heart valves with parallels to the vasculature

Forces generated by blood flow are known to contribute to cardiovascular development and remodeling. These hemodynamic forces induce molecular signals that are communicated from the endothelium to various cell types. The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and the vasculature, and together they deliver nutrients throughout the body. While heart valves and blood vessels experience different environmental forces and differ in morphology as well as cell types, they both can undergo pathological remodeling and become susceptible to calcification. In addition, while the plaque morphology is similar in valvular and vascular diseases, therapeutic targets available for the latter condition are not effective in the management of heart valve calcification. Therefore, research in valvular and vascular pathologies and treatments have largely remained independent. Nonetheless, understanding the similarities and differences in development, calcific/fibrous pathologies and healthy remodeling events between the valvular and vascular systems can help us better identify future treatments for both types of tissues, particularly for heart valve pathologies which have been understudied in comparison to arterial diseases.

The roles of non-coding RNAs in vascular calcification and opportunities as therapeutic targets

Vascular calcification (VC) is characterized by an accumulation of calcium phosphate crystals inside the vessel wall. VC is often associated with diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Even though the number of patients with VC remains prevalent, there are still no approved therapies for the treatment of VC. Since the pathogenesis of VC is diverse and involves multiple factors and mechanisms, it is critical to reveal the novel mechanisms involved in VC. Although protein-coding RNAs involved in VC have been extensively studied, the roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are not yet fully understood. The field of ncRNAs has recently received attention, and accumulating evidence from studies in VC suggests that ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play an important role in the regulation of VC. NcRNAs can modulate VC by acting as promoters or inhibitors and may be useful in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of VC. In this article, we review and discuss ncRNAs that regulate VC and present the therapeutic implications of these ncRNAs.

Role of Interleukin 17A in Aortic Valve Inflammation in Apolipoprotein E-deficient Mice

Interleukin 17A (IL17A) is reported to be involved in many inflammatory processes, but its role in aortic valve diseases remains unknown. We examined the role of IL17A based on an ApoE^-/- mouse model with strategies as fed with high-fat diet or treated with IL17A monoclonal antibody (mAb). 12 weeks of high-fat diet feeding can elevate cytokines secretion, inflammatory cells infiltration and myofibroblastic transition of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) in aortic valve. Moreover, diet-induction accelerated interleukin 17 receptor A (IL17RA) activation in VICs. In an IL17A inhibition model, the treatment group was intra-peritoneally injected with anti-IL17A mAb while controls received irrelevant antibody. Functional blockade of IL17A markedly reduced cellular infiltration and transition in aortic valve. To investigate potential mechanisms, NF-κB was co-stained in IL17RA⁺ VICs and IL17RA⁺ macrophages, and further confirmed by Western blotting in VICs. High-fat diet could activate NF-κB nuclear translocation in IL17RA⁺ VICs and IL17RA⁺ macrophages and this process was depressed after IL17A mAb-treatment. In conclusion, high-fat diet can lead to IL17A upregulation, VICs myofibroblastic transition and inflammatory cells infiltration in the aortic value of ApoE^-/- mice. Blocking IL17A with IL17A mAb can alleviate aortic valve inflammatory states.

Low vitamin D levels affect left ventricular wall thickness in severe aortic stenosis

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D [25(OH)D] deficiency and degenerative aortic stenosis represent emerging conditions, linked to a progressive ageing of the population and increased frailty. Previous studies have associated lower levels of 25 (OH)D to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and vascular calcifications. However, few studies have evaluated, so far, the impact of vitamin D deficiency in patients with aortic stenosis, which was therefore the aim of present study.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis undergoing nonurgent coronary angiography were included. Aortic stenosis was defined as aortic valve area (AVA) less than 1 cm and/or mean gradient more than 40 mmHg. Indexed area and stroke volume or dobutamine stress evaluation were performed when indicated. Fasting samples were collected at admission for 25 (OH)D levels assessment.

RESULTS

We included 137 patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis (48.9% men, mean age 78.4 ± 6.4 years) who were divided according to vitamin D median values (≥12.4 ng/ml). Patients with lower vitamin D had a more frequent history of coronary artery bypass graft (P = 0.02) and received more often angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors (P = 0.03). Among them, 38.7% had vitamin D levels less than 10 ng/ml and only five patients were in therapy with vitamin D supplementation. We observed no significant relationship between vitamin D levels and echocardiographic parameters for the severity of aortic stenosis (AVA, peak and mean gradients, volumes, ejection fraction) except for a greater wall thickness in patients with lower vitamin D levels (r = -0.34, P = 0.03). Results did not change when excluding patients with renal failure or treated with vitamin D supplementation.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with severe degenerative aortic stenosis, vitamin D deficiency is common. We found a significant association between left ventricular wall thickness and vitamin D levels, suggesting a potential role of this hormone in modulating hypertrophic remodelling in these patients. However, future larger studies are certainly needed to confirm our findings and to define their prognostic implications.

Alendronate slows down aortic stenosis progression in osteoporotic patients: An observational prospective study

Background:

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common primary valvular disease. Currently, there is no pharmacological approach for the medical management of AS. We investigated the effect of osteoporosis therapy with alendronate on hemodynamic progression in patients concurrently affected by AS and osteoporosis.

Materials and Methods:

In this observational prospective study, we enrolled 37 women more than 60 years old with diagnosis of AS and concurrent osteoporosis from August 2017 to December 2019. These patients were treated with alendronate 70 mg every week added to their routine treatment for AS, and their outcomes were compared with 33 patients only affected by AS. Echocardiographic changes and N-terminal-prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) level were evaluated during about 2 years of follow-up.

Results:

The mean follow-up time for the treated and nontreated groups was 20.89 ± 2.73 and 20.84 ± 2.76 months, respectively. Mean gradient (P = 0.02) and peak gradient (P = 0.04) of aortic valve were significantly different between the groups after follow-up. Aortic valve area was decreased 0.09 cm² in the treated group by alendronate and 0.23 cm² in the other group (P = 0.001). Furthermore, NT-pro-BNP was significantly decreased in patients treated by alendronate (P = 0.01), but it was increased in nontreated patients (P = 0.04).

Conclusion:

Treatment with alendronate in patients with AS and concurrent osteoporosis slows down the progression of stenosis and improves their prognosis. This study could open a new pathway for the treatment of AS. Further studies, particularly randomized controlled clinical trial, should be done for providing more evidence.

Disorders of the Aorta and Aortic Valve in Connective Tissue Diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The incidence of aortic valve disease in inherited connective tissue disorders is well documented; however, recent studies have only begun to unravel the pathology behind this association. In this review, we aim to describe the etiology, clinical manifestations, management, and prognosis of aortic and aortic valvular disorders that co-exist in a variety of connective tissue diseases. An extensive literature review was performed in PubMed. Articles from 2008 to 2018 were included for review. Predetermined search terms used in PubMed include "aortic manifestation of connective tissue diseases" and "aortic valve disorders in rheumatologic disease."

RECENT FINDINGS

Manifestations of aortic valve disease in the context of connective tissue disorders include valvular stenosis, regurgitation, and/or thoracic aortic aneurysms. Both inherited and inflammatory connective tissue disorders contribute to aortic valve damage with increased susceptibility associated with specific gene variants. Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapies have demonstrated beneficial results in Marfan's syndrome, Behcet disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and systemic sclerosis, often leading to remission. Yet, such therapy is less effective in other disorders compared to alternative treatments such as surgical intervention. Additionally, regular echocardiographic studies should be recommended to those suffering from these disorders, especially those at higher risk for cardiovascular involvement. Given the rates of relapse with immunosuppressants, even following aortic valve replacement, further studies are needed to determine if certain dosing and/or combinations of immunosuppressants could be given to those diagnosed with connective tissue diseases to prevent progression of aortic valve involvement.

Use of Dexmedetomidine in Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (tf-TAVI) Procedures

INTRODUCTION

Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonist without any effect on the GABA receptor. Its sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, and sympatholytic activities together with opioid-sparing effects make it suitable for short- and long-term sedation in the intensive care setting. We report our experience with dexmedetomidine use during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure as an alternative to general anesthesia.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of high-risk patients undergoing dexmedetomidine infusion for the transfemoral TAVI procedure between July 2017 and October 2019. The primary outcome parameters were hemodynamic: heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP); respiratory oxygen saturation (SpO₂), pH, partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO₂), partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO₂), and sedation level (Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale, RASS). The frequency of conversion to general anesthesia and the need for sedative "rescue therapy" were secondary endpoints. We also reported the overall anesthetic management and the incidence of intra- and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Eighty-five patients were evaluated (age 81.58 ± 5.23 years, 36.5% men, 63.5% women). High comorbidity, according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS PROM). The patients' hemodynamic functions were kept normal. Complications such as cardiac arrest occurred in four patients; orotracheal intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were necessary. Atrioventricular block occurred in nine patients. Respiratory parameters were maintained stable. Complications such as apnea, hypoventilation, and hypoxemia did not occur. All patients had RASS scores above or equal to 0 and - 1. No patient required rescue midazolam or fentanyl. No conversion to general anesthesia in patients sedated with dexmedetomidine was observed in the absence of hemodynamic complications caused by the surgical technique.

CONCLUSION

In this series, sedation with dexmedetomidine for TAVI procedures with femoral access was proven effective and safe. Dexmedetomidine may be a valid alternative to general anesthesia in high-risk older patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI.

Vascular Calcification-New Insights Into Its Mechanism

Vascular calcification (VC), which is categorized by intimal and medial calcification, depending on the site(s) involved within the vessel, is closely related to cardiovascular disease. Specifically, medial calcification is prevalent in certain medical situations, including chronic kidney disease and diabetes. The past few decades have seen extensive research into VC, revealing that the mechanism of VC is not merely a consequence of a high-phosphorous and -calcium milieu, but also occurs via delicate and well-organized biologic processes, including an imbalance between osteochondrogenic signaling and anticalcific events. In addition to traditionally established osteogenic signaling, dysfunctional calcium homeostasis is prerequisite in the development of VC. Moreover, loss of defensive mechanisms, by microorganelle dysfunction, including hyper-fragmented mitochondria, mitochondrial oxidative stress, defective autophagy or mitophagy, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, may all contribute to VC. To facilitate the understanding of vascular calcification, across any number of bioscientific disciplines, we provide this review of a detailed updated molecular mechanism of VC. This encompasses a vascular smooth muscle phenotypic of osteogenic differentiation, and multiple signaling pathways of VC induction, including the roles of inflammation and cellular microorganelle genesis.

[Association of Atrial Fibrillation with Coronary Lesion in Ischemic Heart Disease Patients]

AIM

to find out whether atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) is related to some definite localization or extent of coronary artery lesions or type of coronary circulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared data of clinical, laboratory, and instrumental examination of 178 IHD patients from the Registry of coronary angiography of patients with AF (main group) and 331 patients (comparison group) selected according to propensity score matching with balancing by sex, age, body mass index, severity of chronic heart failure, frequency of myocardial infarctions, detection of arterial hypertension, and thyroid diseases.

RESULTS

The groups did not differ in terms of alcohol use, frequency of smoking, and detection of diabetes. Patients with AF compared with those without had higher mean heart rate (105±32 vs. 70±13 bpm, р&lt;0.001), lower level of triglycerides (1.74±1.08 vs. 1.94±1.17 mmol / l, р=0.019). AF patients more rarely had class III-IV effort angina (52.9 % vs. 66.5 %, р=0.041). Rate of detection of left ventricular (LV) dilatation and index of LV asynergy in both groups were similar, but absolute dimensions and indexes of LV, left atrium, right ventricle, LV myocardial mass were higher in the AF group. Hemodynamically significant mitral regurgitation and lowering of LV contractility were more often detected in patients with AF (49.1 % vs. 18.4 %, р&lt;0.001, and 56.2 % vs. 39.5 %, р&lt;0.001, in main and comparison groups, respectively). Analysis of coronary angiography data showed that patients with compared with those without AF more often had right type of coronary circulation (87.5 % vs. 80.4 %, р=0.043) as well as lesions of the right coronary artery (92.1 % vs. 85.8 %, р=0.037), and less often lesions of left coronary artery trunk (16.3 % vs. 24.8 %, р=0.027).

CONCLUSION

AF in patients with IHD is associated with right coronary artery lesions and right type of coronary circulation.

Fibrosis in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: treat or trigger?

Fibrosis is a life-threatening pathological condition resulting from a dysfunctional tissue repair process. There is no efficient treatment and organ transplantation is in many cases the only therapeutic option. Here we review tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) approaches to address fibrosis in the cardiovascular system, the kidney, the lung and the liver. These strategies have great potential to achieve repair or replacement of diseased organs by cell- and material-based therapies. However, paradoxically, they might also trigger fibrosis. Cases of TERM interventions with adverse outcome are also included in this review. Furthermore, we emphasize the fact that, although organ engineering is still in its infancy, the advances in the field are leading to biomedically relevant in vitro models with tremendous potential for disease recapitulation and development of therapies. These human tissue models might have increased predictive power for human drug responses thereby reducing the need for animal testing.

Early Left Ventricular Dysfunction Detected by Speckle Tracking in Long-Term Hemodialysis Patients with Valvular Calcification

Purpose: Cardiac valve calcification (VC) is very common in patients on hemodialysis. However, the definite effect of VC on left ventricular (LV) geometry and function in this population is unknown, especially when LV ejection fraction (LVEF) is normal. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of VC on LV geometry and function in long-term hemodialysis patients by conventional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). Methods: A total of 47 hemodialysis patients (2–3 times weekly for 5 years or more) were enrolled in this study. Cardiac VC was defined as bright echoes of more than 1 mm on one or more cusps of the aortic valve or mitral valve or mitral annulus using echocardiography as the screening method. LV longitudinal global strain (GLS) was assessed on the apical four-chamber view and calculated as the mean strain of 6 segments. LV global circumferential strain was acquired on the LV short axis view at the level of papillary muscles. Results: Twenty-five patients with VC had higher mean values of interventricular septum thickness, LV posterior wall thickness, LV mass index, relative wall thickness, and LV mass/end-diastolic volume than 22 patients without VC (p < 0.05, respectively), indicating more obvious LV hypertrophy (LVH). VC patients had higher mitral annular E/E′ values, especially at the septal side representing increased LV filling pressure compatible with diastolic dysfunction, while only the E/E′ ratio of the septal side was significantly different between the 2 groups (16.7 ± 4.1 vs. 12.3 ± 4.4, p < 0.01). When assessed by GLS, LV longitudinal systolic function was also lower in in patients with VC compared with those without VC (–0.18 ± 0.03 vs. –0.25 ± 0.04; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Cardiac VC diagnosed by echocardiography when it occurs in long-term hemodialysis patients may indicate more severe LVH, myocardial damage, and worse heart function in comparison to those without VC. Tissue Doppler imaging and 2D-STE can detect the subtle change of heart function in this population in the early stage of LV dysfunction when LVEF is normal.

The aging heart

As the elderly segment of the world population increases, it is critical to understand the changes in cardiac structure and function during the normal aging process. In this review, we outline the key molecular pathways and cellular processes that underlie the phenotypic changes in the heart and vasculature that accompany aging. Reduced autophagy, increased mitochondrial oxidative stress, telomere attrition, altered signaling in insulin-like growth factor, growth differentiation factor 11, and 5'- AMP-activated protein kinase pathways are among the key molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac aging. Aging promotes structural and functional changes in the atria, ventricles, valves, myocardium, pericardium, the cardiac conduction system, and the vasculature. We highlight the factors known to accelerate and attenuate the intrinsic aging of the heart and vessels in addition to potential preventive and therapeutic avenues. A greater understanding of the processes involved in cardiac aging may facilitate our ability to mitigate the escalating burden of CVD in older individuals and promote healthy cardiac aging.