Mitral and aortic valve sclerosis/calcification and carotid atherosclerosis: results from 1065 patients

Aortic Valve Sclerosis as an Important Predictor of Long-Term Mortality in Patients With Carotid Atheromatous Plaque Requiring Carotid Endarterectomy

Background: A strong association between aortic valve sclerosis (AVSc), the earliest manifestation of calcific aortic valve disease, and atherosclerosis exists. The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictive capabilities of AVSc on long-term all-cause mortality, in patients requiring carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Methods and Results: 806 consecutive CEA patients were enrolled. Preoperative echocardiography was used to assess AVSc. Computed tomography angiography was applied for plaque characterization. Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox linear regression, and area under the receiving operator characteristic (AUC) curve analyses were used to evaluate the predictive capability of AVSc. Overall, 348 of 541 patients had AVSc (64%). Age, diabetes, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were associated with AVSc. In the 5-year follow-up, AVSc group had a mortality rate of 16.7% while in no-AVSc group was 7.8%. Independent predictors of all-cause mortality were age, sex, eGFR, left ventricular ejection fraction, and AVSc. After adjustments, AVSc was associated with a significant increase in all-cause mortality risk (hazard ratio, HR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.04–3.54; p = 0.038). We stratify our cohort based on carotid atheromatous plaque-type: soft, calcified, and mixed-fibrotic. In patients with mixed-fibrotic plaques, the mortality rate of AVSc patients was 15.5% compared to 2.4% in no-AVSc patients. In this group, AVSc was associated with an increased long-term all-cause mortality risk with an adjusted HR of 12.8 (95%CI: 1.71–96.35; p = 0.013), and the AUC, combing eGFR and AVSc was 0.77 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that AVSc together with eGFR may be used to improve long-term risk stratification of patients undergoing CEA surgery.

Cardiovascular Calcification as a Marker of Increased Cardiovascular Risk and a Surrogate for Subclinical Atherosclerosis: Role of Echocardiography

The risk prediction of future cardiovascular events is mainly based on conventional risk factor assessment by validated algorithms, such as the Framingham Risk Score, the Pooled Cohort Equations and the European SCORE Risk Charts. The identification of subclinical atherosclerosis has emerged as a promising tool to refine the individual cardiovascular risk identified by these models, to prognostic stratify asymptomatic individuals and to implement preventive strategies. Several imaging modalities have been proposed for the identification of subclinical organ damage, the main ones being coronary artery calcification scanning by cardiac computed tomography and the two-dimensional ultrasound evaluation of carotid arteries. In this context, echocardiography offers an assessment of cardiac calcifications at different sites, such as the mitral apparatus (including annulus, leaflets and papillary muscles), aortic valve and ascending aorta, findings that are associated with the clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic disease and are predictive of future cardiovascular events. The aim of this paper is to summarize the available evidence on clinical implications of cardiac calcification, review studies that propose semiquantitative ultrasound assessments of cardiac calcifications and evaluate the potential of ultrasound calcium scores for risk stratification and prevention of clinical events.

Degenerative aortic valve disease and diabetes: Implications for a link between proteoglycans and diabetic disorders in the aortic valve

Degenerative aortic valve disease in combination with diabetes is an increasing burden worldwide. There is growing evidence that particularly small leucine-rich proteoglycans are involved in the development of degenerative aortic valve disease. Nevertheless, the role of these molecules in this disease in the course of diabetes has not been elucidated in detail and previous studies remain controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study is to broaden the knowledge about small leucine-rich proteoglycans in degenerative aortic valve disease and the influence of diabetes and hyperglycaemia on aortic valves and valvular interstitial cells is examined. Analyses were performed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, (immuno)histology and colorimetric assays. We could show that biglycan, but not decorin and lumican, is upregulated in degenerated human aortic valve cusps. Subgroup analysis reveals that upregulation of biglycan is stage-dependent. In vivo, loss of biglycan leads to stage-dependent calcification and also to migratory effects on interstitial cells within the extracellular matrix. In late stages of degenerative aortic valve disease, diabetes increases the expression of biglycan in aortic valves. In vitro, the combinations of hyperglycaemic with pro-degenerative conditions lead to an upregulation of biglycan. In conclusion, biglycan represents a potential link between degenerative aortic valve disease and diabetes.

Assessment of left atrial volume and mechanical functions using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in patients with mitral annular calcification

Objective:

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is degeneration of the fibrous annular ring of the mitral valve. Left atrial (LA) function and volume have been evaluated by many methods; however, none have used real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) in patients with MAC. Our study is the first to evaluate LA volume and mechanical function using RT3DE in patients with MAC.

Methods:

Our study was a prospective cross-sectional study. In total, 32 patients with echocardiographic evidence of MAC and 30 volunteers without MAC were enrolled in the study. Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation test, and multiple linear regression analyses were used in this study.

Results:

LA diameter was significantly higher in patients with MAC (38.5±3.8 vs. 31.1±2.9, p<0.001). Maximum LA volume (49.6±11.2 vs. 35.6±2.5, p<0.001), minimum LA volume (23.8±7.9 vs. 12.6±2.3, p<0.001), and LA volume index (LAVI) (26.9±6.1 vs. 20.5±2.4, p<0.001) were also higher in the MAC group. LAVI was correlated with age (p<0.001), blood urea nitrogen levels (p=0.089), total cholesterol levels (p=0.055), left ventricular systolic myocardial velocity (p=0.048), E/A ratio (p<0.001), and MAC (p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that age (β=0.390, p<0.001) and MAC (β=0.527, p<0.001) were independent predictors of LAVI.

Conclusion:

We found that LA mechanical function was impaired in patients with MAC. Furthermore, age and MAC were independent predictors of increased LAVI according to our RT3DE examination.

Markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with aortic valve sclerosis: A meta-analysis of literature studies

OBJECTIVE

Growing evidence suggested an association between aortic valve sclerosis (AVSc) and cardiovascular (CV) events. However, little is known about the association of AVSc with major markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. We performed a meta-analysis of literature studies to address this issue.

METHODS

Studies on the relationship between AVSc and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), prevalence of carotid plaques (CPs), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were systematically searched in electronic databases. Thirteen studies enrolling 1086 AVSc patients and 2124 controls were included.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, AVSc patients showed higher IMT (MD: 0.32mm; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.58; p=0.014), and higher prevalence of CPs (OR: 4.06; 95%CI: 2.38, 6.93; p<0.001). Moreover, lower FMD (MD: -4.48%; 95%CI: -7.23, -1.74; p=0.001) and higher PWV (MD: 0.96%; 95%CI: 0.11, 1.81; p=0.027) were found in AVSc subjects than in controls, with no differences in AIx (MD: 0.76%; 95%CI: -0.97, 2.49; p=0.389). In meta-regression analyses, body mass index and triglyceride levels have an impact on the difference in IMT between cases and controls, while male gender and smoking habit were associated with the difference in the prevalence of CPs between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

AVSc is significantly associated with altered markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, thus supporting the concept that AVSc and atherosclerosis share common etiopathological mechanism and/or risk factors.

Decellularized aortic conduits: could their cryopreservation affect post-implantation outcomes? A morpho-functional study on porcine homografts

Decellularized porcine aortic valve conduits (AVCs) implanted in a Vietnamese Pig (VP) experimental animal model were matched against decellularized and then cryopreserved AVCs to assess the effect of cryopreservation on graft hemodynamic performance and propensity to in vivo repopulation by host's cells. VPs (n = 12) underwent right ventricular outflow tract substitution using AVC allografts and were studied for 15-month follow-up. VPs were randomized into two groups, receiving AVCs treated with decellularization alone (D; n = 6) or decellularization/cryopreservation (DC; n = 6), respectively. Serial echocardiography was carried out to follow up hemodynamic function. All explanted AVCs were processed for light and electron microscopy. No signs of dilatation, progressive stenosis, regurgitation, and macroscopic calcification were echocardiographically observed in both D and DC groups. Explanted D grafts exhibited near-normal features, whereas the presence of calcification, inflammatory infiltrates, and disarray of elastic lamellae occurred in some DC grafts. In the unaltered regions of AVCs from both groups, almost complete re-endothelialization was observed for both valve cusps and aorta walls. In addition, side-by-side repopulation by recipient's fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells was paralleled by ongoing tissue remodeling, as revealed by the ultrastructural identification of typical canals of collagen fibrillogenesis and elastogenesis-related features. Incipient neo-vascularization and re-innervation of medial and adventitial tunicae of grafted aortic walls were also detected for both D and DC groups. Cryopreservation did not affect post-implantation AVC hemodynamic behavior and was topically propensive to cell repopulation and tissue renewal, although graft deterioration including calcification was present in several areas. Thus, these preliminary data provide essential information on feasibility of decellularization and cryopreservation coupling in the perspective of treatment optimization and subsequent clinical trials using similarly treated human allografts as innovative heart valve substitutes.

Assessment and impact of diastolic function by echocardiography in elderly patients

Doppler echocardiography is the gold standard for assessment of diastolic dysfunction, which is increasingly recognised as a cause of heart failure, especially in the elderly. Using a combination of Doppler echocardiography techniques, it is possible to identify grades of diastolic dysfunction, estimate left ventricular filling pressures and establish the chronicity of diastolic dysfunction. These physiologically-derived measures have been widely validated against invasive measurements of left heart pressures and have been shown to be prognostically valuable in a wide range of clinical settings. This review explores the mechanisms, and approaches to the assessment of diastolic dysfunction in the elderly. The challenge for clinicians is to identify pathophysiological changes from those associated with normal ageing. When used in combination, and taking age into account, Doppler echocardiographic parameters are helpful in the assessment of dyspnoea in older patients and provide prognostic insights.

Higher visit-to-visit intra-dialytic blood pressure is associated with the progression of aortic valve stenosis in chronic hemodialysis patients

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a frequent complication contributing to poor prognosis in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients. High blood pressure (BP) is known to be associated with AS progression in the general population. In CHD patients, however, BP varies during and between hemodialysis sessions with ultrafiltration volume or inter-dialytic weight gain; therefore it is difficult to characterize the BP status with a conventional single measurement. Our purpose was to clarify the BP variables affecting AS progression in CHD patients. We retrospectively enrolled 32 consecutive CHD patients with AS [aortic valve area (AVA), 1.3 ± 0.3 cm(2); mean age 69 ± 8 years] who had serial transthoracic echocardiographic studies at least 6 months apart (mean 23 ± 9 months). AS progression was evaluated using absolute reduction in AVA per year. Pre-dialytic and intra-dialytic (every hour during sessions) BPs throughout the 3 consecutive visits were used to determine each patient's BP status. We calculated the mean values of pre-dialytic and intra-dialytic BPs and their variability. In univariate analysis, mean visit-to-visit pre-dialytic and intra-dialytic BP were associated with AS progression, whereas all variables of BP variability were not. Multiple regression analysis indicated that only mean visit-to-visit intra-dialytic systolic and diastolic BP remained independently associated with AS progression after adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and serum parathyroid hormone (p < 0.05). Although BP regulation in CHD patients is complex and multifactorial, mean visit-to-visit intra-dialytic BP was independently associated with AS progression. Prospective studies are necessary before considering intra-dialytic BP as a potential target for therapy.

Relationship between Urinary Level of Phytate and Valvular Calcification in an Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Pathological calcification generally consists of the formation of solid deposits of hydroxyapatite (calcium phosphate) in soft tissues. Supersaturation is the thermodynamic driving force for crystallization, so it is believed that higher blood levels of calcium and phosphate increase the risk of cardiovascular calcification. However several factors can promote or inhibit the natural process of pathological calcification. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between physiological levels of urinary phytate and heart valve calcification in a population of elderly out subjects. A population of 188 elderly subjects (mean age: 68 years) was studied. Valve calcification was measured by echocardiography. Phytate determination was performed from a urine sample and data on blood chemistry, end-systolic volume, concomitant diseases, cardiovascular risk factors, medication usage and food were obtained. The study population was classified in three tertiles according to level of urinary phytate: low (<0.610 μM), intermediate (0.61-1.21 μM), and high (>1.21 μM). Subjects with higher levels of urinary phytate had less mitral annulus calcification and were less likely to have diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. In the multivariate analysis, age, serum phosphorous, leukocytes total count and urinary phytate excretion appeared as independent factors predictive of presence of mitral annulus calcification. There was an inverse correlation between urinary phytate content and mitral annulus calcification in our population of elderly out subjects. These results suggest that consumption of phytate-rich foods may help to prevent cardiovascular calcification evolution.

Usefulness of an Echocardiographic Composite Cardiac Calcium Score to Predict Death in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease (from the Heart and Soul Study)

Mitral annular calcium and aortic valve sclerosis on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) are independently associated with cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the prognostic value of calcific deposits at multiple sites is unknown. We performed TTEs in a prospective cohort of 595 outpatients with stable CAD and graded the severity of calcific deposition at 6 sites: mitral annulus, aortic valve, aortic ring, sinotubular junction, papillary muscle tip, and left main coronary artery. For each site with moderate calcific deposition or greater, 1 point was given to generate a composite cardiac calcium score (maximum of 6). The primary end point was the occurrence of CV events-a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack, and heart failure. The association of the composite calcium score with CV events was evaluated using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Over a median follow-up of 4.2 years, 205 CV events occurred. Participants with a composite calcium score ≥2 had a higher risk of CV events (11.1 events/100 person-years) than those with a score of 0 (5.5 events/100 person-years, unadjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.01, p <0.001), but this association was not significant after multivariate adjustment. The risk of death was higher in participants with a composite calcium score of ≥2 (8.9 events/100 person-years) versus those with a score of 0 (3.6 events/100 person-years, unadjusted HR 2.51, p <0.001). After adjustment for age, diabetes mellitus, previous coronary revascularization, diastolic blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and serum phosphorus level, the risk of death remained higher in participants with a composite calcium score of ≥2 compared with those with a score of 0 (adjusted HR 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.10 to 2.81, p = 0.02). In conclusion, a simple TTE-derived composite cardiac calcium score was independently predictive of death in patients with pre-existing CAD.

Echocardiographically derived effective valve opening area in mitral prostheses: a comparative analysis of various calculations using continuity equation and pressure half time method

Detection of dysfunctional mitral valve prostheses (MP) remains complex even though being optimized by considering echocardiographically derived prosthetic effective orifice area (VA). The purpose was to compare VA in MP, calculated by the continuity equation (CE) using peak velocities (CEVpeak), mean velocities (CEVmean), velocity-time integrals (CEVTI) and the pressure half time method using 220 ms as constant first (PHT220) as well as optimized constants. In 267 consecutive patients with normally functioning MP, we investigated VA within the first postoperative month. With increasing prosthetic sizes, mean VA values also increase in all calculations. The statistical curves demonstrate no significant difference in graphical steepness but show different levels. Comparison of mean VA showed the known systematic higher values of PHT220 and significantly decreased results when using CEVTI. This systematic difference between mean VA applying PHT220 versus CEVTI is approximately 1.0 cm(2) for all prosthetic sizes. Calculations via CEVpeak were close to the results of CEVTI. CEVmean produced values, which graphically correspond to the PHT220 curve. Only PHT220 detected the constructional equal prosthetic inner ring width between 29 and 31 mm. To compensate the systematic difference between CEVTI and PHT220, an optimized constant of 140 ms was calculated to be applied in PHT (PHT140). VA is a robust and, therefore, preferable parameter for investigating MP. If needed, both CE and PHT are applicable with a systematical difference between CEVTI and PHT220. An optimized constant of 140 ms (PHT140) should be applied when calculating VA of mitral valve prostheses via PHT.

Metabolic syndrome showed significant relationship with carotid atherosclerosis

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We assessed the associations between MetS and the indicators of carotid atherosclerosis as assessed by ultrasonography taking into consideration of confounders in the general population. A total of 1281 subjects (856 males, 425 females) were included in the present study. The total plaque score and maximum intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries were measured as indicators of atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular risk factors were several metabolic components, serum uric acid, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and lifestyle factors. MetS was defined according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program. The prevalences of an elevated total plaque score (≥5) and elevated IMT (>1 mm) of the carotid arteries were significantly higher in subjects with MetS as compared to subjects without MetS. Furthermore, a trend was observed towards higher prevalences of these indicators of atherosclerosis as the number of components of MetS increased. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between elevated plaque score and MetS even after adjustments for age, serum uric acid, serum CRP and lifestyle factors in the males. Among the indicators of atherosclerosis assessed by carotid ultrasonography, a significant independent association was observed between the total plaque score and MetS in males in the general population.

A differentiated morphological parameter-coding system to describe the suitability of mitral valve stenoses intended for percutaneous valvotomy

Percutaneous balloon-mitral-valvotomy (PBMV) is an alternative to surgery in selected patients with mitral valve (MV) stenosis (MS). Applying echocardiography, suitability for PBMV is assessed by detailed morphological description. Echo-scores alone are suboptimal to describe MV morphology, because single parameters, important for a decision concerning PBMV, are not distinguishable out of a score number. The aim was to design a tool (coding-system), which combines a number for a stenotic MV like scores (for statistical options) and decodable, generally applied parameters describing the MS morphology. The reproducibility of the MS morphology using the coding-system has to be tested in 90 patients. A separate group of 297 patients (pts) with MS, scheduled for PBMV, should be investigated prospectively applying the coding-system and a comparable score. We chose the Wilkins score (WS) as representative of scores. The coding-system is designed as a parameter sequencing set consisting of 6 digits. The first digit indicates a decision code concerning suitability for PBMV. The following 5 digits indicate generally accepted morphological parameters, which are partially also used in the WS. Therefore, the MS morphology can be "read" retrospectively by decoding. 201/297 patients were found suitable for PBMV. Applying the coding-system all 201 suitable patients were correctly distinguished from 96 morphologically unsuitable patients. Astonishingly 48/96 of the rejected patients showed a WS ≤8 whereas 28/201 of the suitable patients demonstrated a WS >8. 25/28 of them showed a successful initial outcome. Applying the generally known threshold of "8" when predicting suitability of a MS, the WS demonstrated an initial success rate of 62 %, sensitivity of 0.87, specificity of 0.45, precision of 0.79, and accuracy of 0.78. Applying the coding-system, the initial success rate was 70.8 %, sensitivity = 0.96, specificity = 1.0, precision = 1.0, and accuracy = 0.97. The coding-system is an advanced diagnostic aid, is statistically applicable, offers a decodable morphological description, includes a decision code regarding suitability for PBMV, and can be used for comparing different groups of patients with MS by calculating "mean morphologies" of groups.

Mitral Valve Annuloplasty Ring Dehiscence Diagnosed Intraoperative With Real-Time 3D Transesophageal Echocardiogram

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is often a result of the accumulation of lipids around the annulus, which can lead to degeneration and calcification of the valve. Multiple risk factors have been associated with the progression of MAC and life-threatening complications such as the early mitral valve annuloplasty dehiscence. Our case describes the different risk factors for annuloplasty dehiscence in a patient with severe MAC, as well as the importance of its early recognition intraoperatively with 3D transesophageal echocardiography.