Wiktorowicz A, Wit A, Dziewierz A, Rzeszutko L, Dudek D, Kleczynski P. Calcium Pattern Assessment in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis Via the Chou's 5-Steps Rule.
Curr Pharm Des 2020;
25:3769-3775. [PMID:
31566130 DOI:
10.2174/1381612825666190930101258]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Progression of aortic valve calcifications (AVC) leads to aortic valve stenosis (AS). Importantly, the AVC degree has a great impact on AS progression, treatment selection and outcomes. Methods of AVC assessment do not provide accurate quantitative evaluation and analysis of calcium distribution and deposition in a repetitive manner.
OBJECTIVE
We aim to prepare a reliable tool for detailed AVC pattern analysis with quantitative parameters.
METHODS
We analyzed computed tomography (CT) scans of fifty patients with severe AS using a dedicated software based on MATLAB version R2017a (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA) and ImageJ version 1.51 (NIH, USA) with the BoneJ plugin version 1.4.2 with a self-developed algorithm.
RESULTS
We listed unique parameters describing AVC and prepared 3D AVC models with color pointed calcium layer thickness in the stenotic aortic valve. These parameters were derived from CT-images in a semi-automated and repeatable manner. They were divided into morphometric, topological and textural parameters and may yield crucial information about the anatomy of the stenotic aortic valve.
CONCLUSION
In our study, we were able to obtain and define quantitative parameters for calcium assessment of the degenerated aortic valves. Whether the defined parameters are able to predict potential long-term outcomes after treatment, requires further investigation.
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