Clinical factors associated with calcific aortic valve disease. Cardiovascular Health Study

The impact of the Naples Prognostic Score on the short- and long-term prognosis of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation

BACKGROUND

Preoperative systemic inflammation and nutritional status have been shown to affect prognosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In this study, we investigated the effect of the Naples Prognostic Score (NPS), which consists of four different parameters including these two components on short- and long-term prognosis in patients undergoing TAVI.

METHODS

In 343 patients (mean age 78.1 ± 8.4 years, 51.3% female) who underwent TAVI, the NPS score was calculated from the blood tests obtained before the procedure and the study population was divided into three according to the NPS value: those with 0 and 1 were divided into Group-1, those with 2 into Group-2, and those with 3 and 4 into Group-3. The relationship between NPS group and in-hospital adverse events and long-term survival was evaluated.

RESULTS

Systolic pulmonary artery pressure, STS score, presence of chronic lung disease and being in NPS Group-3 [adjusted odds ratio (adjOR): 3.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.02-15.17), P  = 0.047] were found to be independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. According to the multivariate Cox-regression model, both Group-2 NPS [adjusted hazard ratio (adjHR): 4.81, 95% CI (1.09-21.14), P  = 0.037] and Group-3 NPS [adjHR: 10.1, 95% CI (2.31-43.36), P  = 0.002] was an independent predictor of 2-year all-cause mortality after TAVI. There was no significant difference in perioperative adverse events between the groups except for postprocedural acute kidney injury. According to receiver-operating characteristic analysis, the optimal predictive value of NPS for in-hospital and long-term mortality was 2.5.

CONCLUSION

In patients who will be candidates for TAVI, NPS is a simple and effective tool for determining both short- and long-term prognosis.

The Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients: An Overview of the Literature

The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients is a debatable topic. Several studies have indicated that BAV patients have a lower prevalence of CAD compared with patients with a tricuspid aortic valve (TAV), but the effects of age and gender have not always been considered. This systematic review provides an overview of articles which report on CAD in BAV and TAV patients. Searches were executed in April 2021 and January 2022 according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines in three online databases: Medline, Embase, and Scopus. Screening and data extraction was done by two investigators separately. Primary and secondary outcomes were compared between BAV and TAV patients; a fixed effects model was used for correcting on confounders. Literature search yielded 1,529 articles with 44 being eligible for inclusion. BAV patients were younger (56.4 ± 8.3 years) than TAV patients (64 ± 10.3 years, p < 0.001). All CAD risk factors and CAD were more prevalent in TAV patients. No significant difference remained after correcting for age and gender as confounders. BAV patients have a lower prevalence of CAD and CAD risk factors compared with TAV patients. However, when the age differences between both groups are considered in the analyses, a similar prevalence of both CAD and CAD risk factors is found.

Association between lipoprotein(a), LPA genetic risk score, aortic valve disease, and subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events

AIMS

Cohort studies have demonstrated associations between calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) and Lp(a). As Lp(a) is almost entirely genetically determined, in this study, we aim to determine whether Lp(a), when predicted from genetic data, is associated with CAVD and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients undergoing coronary angiography between January 2012 and May 2013 were invited to participate in the study. Of 752 analysable participants, 446 had their Lp(a) measured and 703 had a calculable LPA genetic risk score (GRS). The primary outcomes were the presence of CAVD at baseline and MACE over a 7-year follow-up. The GRS explained 45% of variation in Lp(a). After adjustment for cardiac risk factors and coronary artery disease (CAD), the odds of CAVD increased with increasing Lp(a) [odds ratio (OR) 1.039 per 10-unit increase, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.022-1.057, P < 0.001] and GRS (OR 1.054 per 10-unit increase, 95% CI 1.024-1.086; P < 0.001). Lipoprotein(a) and the GRS as continuous variables were not associated with subsequent MACEs. A dichotomized GRS (>54) was associated with MACE, but this relationship became non-significant when CAD classification was added into the model (OR 1.333, 95% CI 0.927-1.912; P = 0.12).

CONCLUSION

An LPA GRS can explain 45% of variation in Lp(a) levels, and both Lp(a) and the GRS are associated with CAVD. An elevated GRS is associated with future cardiac events in a secondary risk setting, but, if the CAD status is known, it does not provide additional prognostic information.

The gut microbe-derived metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide induces aortic valve fibrosis via PERK/ATF-4 and IRE-1α/XBP-1s signaling in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The gut microbe-derived metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular fibrosis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurs after the dysfunction of ER and its structure. The three signals PERK/ATF-4, IRE-1α/XBP-1s and ATF6 are activated upon ER stress. Recent reports have suggested that the activation of PERK/ATF-4 and IRE-1α/XBP-1s signaling contributes to cardiovascular fibrosis. However, whether TMAO mediates aortic valve fibrosis by activating PERK/ATF-4 and IRE-1α/XBP-1s signaling remains unclear.

METHODS

Human aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs) were isolated from aortic valve leaflets. PERK IRE-1α, ATF-4, XBP-1s and CHOP expression, and production of collagen Ⅰ and TGF-β1 were analyzed following treatment with TMAO. The role of PERK/ATF-4 and IRE-1α/XBP-1s signaling pathways in TMAO-induced fibrotic formation was determined using inhibitors and small interfering RNA.

RESULTS

Diseased valves produced greater levels of ATF-4, XBP-1, collagen Ⅰ and TGF-β1. Interestingly, diseased cells exhibited augmented PERK/ATF-4 and IRE-1α/XBP-1s activation after TMAO stimulation. Inhibition and silencing of PERK/ATF-4 and IRE-1α/XBP-1s each resulted in enhanced suppression of TMAO-induced fibrogenic activity in diseased cells. Mice treated with dietary choline supplementation had substantially increased TMAO levels and aortic valve fibrosis, which were reduced by 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol (DMB, an inhibitor of trimethylamine formation) treatment. Moreover, a high-choline and high-fat diet remodeled the gut microbiota in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

TMAO promoted aortic valve fibrosis through activation of PERK/ATF-4 and IRE-1α/XBP-1s signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. Modulation of diet, gut microbiota, TMAO, PERK/ATF-4 and IRE1-α/XBP-1s may be a promising approach to prevent aortic valve fibrosis.

Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Diseases: From Physiology to Pathophysiology and Outcomes

Vitamin D is rightly recognized as an essential key factor in the regulation of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, affecting primary adequate bone mineralization. In the last decades, a more complex and wider role of vitamin D has been postulated and demonstrated. Cardiovascular diseases have been found to be strongly related to vitamin D levels, especially to its deficiency. Pre-clinical studies have suggested a direct role of vitamin D in the regulation of several pathophysiological pathways, such as endothelial dysfunction and platelet aggregation; moreover, observational data have confirmed the relationship with different conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and hypertension. Despite the significant evidence available so far, most clinical trials have failed to prove any positive impact of vitamin D supplements on cardiovascular outcomes. This discrepancy indicates the need for further information and knowledge about vitamin D metabolism and its effect on the cardiovascular system, in order to identify those patients who would benefit from vitamin D supplementation.

Association between evolocumab use and slow progression of aortic valve stenosis

No medications have been reported to inhibit the progression of aortic valve stenosis (AS). The present study aimed to investigate whether evolocumab use is related to the slow progression of AS evaluated by serial echocardiography. This was a retrospective observational study from 2017 to 2022 at Yokohama City University Medical Center. Patients aged ≥ 18 with moderate AS were included. Exclusion criteria were (1) mild AS; (2) severe AS defined by maximum aortic valve (AV) velocity ≥ 4.0 m/s; and/or (3) no data of annual follow-up echocardiography. The primary endpoint was the association between evolocumab use and annual changes in the maximum AV-velocity or peak AV-pressure gradient (PG). A total of 57 patients were enrolled: 9 patients treated with evolocumab (evolocumab group), and the other 48 patients assigned to a control group. During a median follow-up of 33 months, the cumulative incidence of AS events (a composite of all-cause death, AV intervention, or unplanned hospitalization for heart failure) was 11% in the evolocumab group and 58% in the control group (P = 0.012). Annual change of maximum AV-velocity or peak AV-PG from the baseline to the next year was 0.02 (- 0.18 to 0.22) m/s per year or 0.60 (- 4.20 to 6.44) mmHg per year in the evolocumab group, whereas it was 0.29 (0.04-0.59) m/s per year or 7.61 (1.46-16.48) mmHg per year in the control group (both P < 0.05). Evolocumab use was associated with slow progression of AS and a low incidence of AS events in patients with moderate AS.

Temporal trends in the utilization and outcome of transcatheter aortic valve replacement across racial and ethnic groups. A nationwide analysis

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter aortic valvular replacement (TAVR) improves outcomes in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). However, data describing racial disparities in the utilization and outcomes of TAVR are limited. We aimed to evaluate the utilization trends and outcomes of TAVR across racial and ethnic groups.

METHODS

All patients who underwent TAVR in the United States from 2016 through 2020 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample database. Patients were classified according to their racial and ethnic groups as Non-Hispanic White (NHW), Non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Hispanic, and Asian. We assessed racial and ethnic differences in the outcomes of TAVR using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, insurance, income, hospital location and teaching status, bed size, region, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

RESULTS

Of the 280,290 patients who underwent TAVR, 89.5% were NHW, 4.24% were NHB, 4.9% were Hispanic, and 1.39% were Asian people. In 2016, the rates of all-TAVR procedures were 1.48 per 1000 patients among NHW group but 0.39 in NHB, 0.4 in Hispanic, and 0.47 in the Asian group. A steep rise was noted in the rate of TAVR among NHW but not in the NHB, Hispanic, and Asian groups. NHB patients had lower mortality rates (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 0.56; CI 0.35-0.88 p = 0.014) compared to their NHW counterparts.

CONCLUSION

The racial and ethnic gap in the utilization of TAVR widened during the study period with minority groups being disproportionately less likely to receive TAVR. NHB patients who received TAVR had lower mortality rates than NHW.

Prediction of symptom development and aortic valve replacement in patients with low-gradient severe aortic stenosis

Aims

Current evidence on the prognostic value of exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) in asymptomatic patients with low-gradient severe aortic stenosis (AS) is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate its prognostic implications for patients with low-gradient severe AS and determine the added value of ESE in risk stratification for this population.

Methods and results

This retrospective observational study included 122 consecutive asymptomatic patients with either moderate [mean pressure gradient (MPG) < 40 mmHg and aortic valve area (AVA) 1.0-1.5 cm2] or low-gradient severe (MPG < 40 mmHg and AVA < 1.0 cm2) AS and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (≥50%) who underwent ESE. All patients were followed up for AS-related events. Of 143 patients, 21 who met any exclusion criteria, including early interventions, were excluded, and 122 conservatively managed patients [76.5 (71.0-80.3) years; 48.3% male] were included in this study. During a median follow-up period of 989 (578-1571) days, 64 patients experienced AS-related events. Patients with low-gradient severe AS had significantly lower event-free survival rates than those with moderate AS (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that the mitral E/e' ratio during exercise was independently associated with AS-related events (hazard ratio = 1.075, P < 0.001) in patients with low-gradient severe AS.

Conclusion

This study suggests that asymptomatic patients with low-gradient severe AS have worse prognoses than those with moderate AS. Additionally, the mitral E/e' ratio during exercise is a useful parameter for risk stratification in patients with low-gradient severe AS.

Validation of fluid-structure interaction simulations of the opening phase of phantom mitral heart valves under physiologically inspired conditions

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Atrioventricular valve disease is a common cause of heart failure, and successful surgical or interventional outcomes are crucial. Patient-specific fluid-structure interaction (FSI) modeling may provide valuable insights into valve dynamics and guidance of valve repair strategies. However, lack of validation has kept FSI modeling from clinical implementation. Therefore, this study aims to validate FSI simulations against in vitro benchmarking data, based on clinically relevant parameters for evaluating heart valve disease.

METHODS

An FSI model that mimics the left heart was developed. The domain included a deformable mitral valve of different stiffnesses run with different inlet velocities. Five different cases were simulated and compared to in vitro data based on the pressure difference across the valve, the valve opening, and the velocity in the flow domain.

RESULTS

The simulations underestimate the pressure difference across the valve by 6.8-14 % compared to catheter measurements. Evaluation of the valve opening showed an underprediction of 5.4-7.3 % when compared to cine MRI, 2D Echo, and 3D Echo data. Additionally, the simulated velocity through the valve showed a 7.9-8.4 % underprediction in relation to Doppler Echo measurements. Qualitative assessment of the velocity profile in the ventricle and the streamlines of the flow in the domain showed good agreement of the flow behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Parameters relevant to the diagnosis of heart valve disease estimated by FSI simulations showed good agreement when compared to in vitro benchmarking data, with differences small enough not to affect the grading of heart valve disease. The FSI model is thus deemed good enough for further development toward patient-specific cases.

The impact of concomitant chronic total occlusion on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a large single-center analysis

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common finding in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, the impact on prognosis of chronic total occlusions (CTOs), a drastic expression of CAD, remains unclear.

Methods and results

We retrospectively reviewed 1,487 consecutive TAVR cases performed at a single tertiary care medical center. Pre-TAVR angiograms were analyzed for the presence of a CTO. At the time of TAVR, 11.2% (n = 167) patients had a CTO. There was no significant association between the presence of a CTO and in-hospital or 30-day mortality. There was also no difference in long-term survival. LV ejection fraction and mean aortic gradients were lower in the CTO group.

Conclusions

Our analysis suggests that concomitant CTO lesions in patients undergoing TAVR differ in their risk profile and clinical findings to patients without CTO. CTO lesion per se were not associated with increased mortality, nevertheless CTOs which supply non-viable myocardium in TAVR population were associated with increased risk of death. Additional research is needed to evaluate the prognostic significance of CTO lesions in TAVR patients.

Aortic valve replacement today: Outcomes, costs, and opportunities for improvement

The introduction of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) just two decades ago has transformed the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. TAVR has not only extended the option of aortic valve replacement to patients deemed ineligible for surgery, it has also demonstrated similar or better short- and intermediate-term clinical outcomes compared with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients at all levels of surgical risk. These benefits have been achieved with similar or lower costs compared with SAVR, at least in the first 1-2 years for intermediate- and low-risk patients. Longer-term data will further inform clinical and shared decision-making. SUMMARY FOR ANNOTATED TABLE OF CONTENTS: In just over two decades, transcatheter aortic valve replacement has emerged as a frontline approach for appropriately selected patients with severe aortic stenosis. A growing body of evidence documents similar or better clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness for transcatheter compared with surgical aortic valve replacement. Whether the mode is transcatheter or surgical, aortic valve replacement remains underutilized in patients with clear indications for intervention.

Cholesterol Crystal Dissolution Rate of Serum Predicts Outcomes in Patients With Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

BACKGROUND

Aortic stenosis has pathophysiological similarities with atherosclerosis, including the deposition of cholesterol-containing lipoproteins. The resulting cholesterol crystals activate the NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor protein 3) inflammasome, leading to inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate the cholesterol crystal dissolution rate (CCDR) of serum in patients with aortic stenosis and to assess the prognostic value of this biomarker.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study included 348 patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The CCDR was measured using flow cytometry to enumerate cholesterol crystals that were added to a serum solution, at baseline and after 2 hours of incubation. Based on the median CCDR, the cohort was stratified into high and low cholesterol crystal dissolvers. The incidence of the primary end point, a composite of 1-year all-cause mortality and major vascular complication, was significantly lower in the high CCDR group (7.3 per 100 person-years) compared with the low CCDR group (17.0 per 100 person-years, P=0.01). This was mainly driven by a lower 1-year mortality rate in patients with a high CCDR (7.3 versus 15.1 per 100 person-years, P=0.04). Unplanned endovascular interventions were significantly less frequent in high cholesterol crystal dissolvers (12.8 versus 22.6 per 100 person-years, P=0.04). Although low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were comparable in both groups (101.8±37.3 mg/dL versus 97.9±37.6 mg/dL, P=0.35), only patients with a low CCDR showed a benefit from statin treatment. In multivariate analysis, low CCDR (hazard ratio, 2.21 [95% CI, 0.99-4.92], P=0.04) was significantly associated with 1-year mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The CCDR is a novel biomarker associated with outcome in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement. It may provide new insights into patients' anti-inflammatory capacity and additional prognostic information beyond classic risk assessment.

Effects of intensive blood pressure control on left ventricular hypertrophy in aortic valve disease

BACKGROUND

Hypertension adds to the pressure overload on the left ventricle (LV) in combination with aortic valve (AV) disease, but the optimal blood pressure (BP) targets for patients with AV disease remain unclear. We tried to investigate whether intensive BP control reduces LV hypertrophy in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS) or aortic regurgitation (AR).

METHODS

A total of 128 hypertensive patients with mild to moderate AS (n = 93) or AR (n = 35) were randomly assigned to intensive therapy, targeting a systolic BP <130 mm Hg, or standard therapy, targeting a systolic BP <140 mm Hg. The primary end point was the change in LV mass from baseline to the 24-month follow-up. Secondary end points included changes in severity of AV disease, LV volumes, ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain (GLS).

RESULTS

The treatment groups were generally well balanced regarding the baseline characteristics. The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 68 ± 8 years and 48% were men. The mean BP was 145 ± 12/81 ± 10 mm Hg at baseline. Medication at baseline was similar between the 2 groups. The 2 treatment strategies resulted in a rapid and sustained difference in systolic BP (P < .05). At 24-month, the mean systolic BP was 129 ± 12 mm Hg in the intensive therapy group and 135 ± 14 mm Hg in the standard therapy group. No patient died or underwent AV surgery during follow-up in either of the groups. LV mass was changed from 189.5 ± 41.3 to 185.6 ± 41.5 g in the intensive therapy group (P = .19) and from 183.8 ± 38.3 to 194.0 ± 46.4 g in the standard therapy group (P < .01). The primary end point of change in LV mass was significantly different between the intensive therapy and the standard therapy group (-3.9 ± 20.2 g vs 10.3 ± 20.4 g; P = .0007). The increase in LV mass index was also significantly greater in the standard therapy group (P = .01). No significant differences in secondary end points (changes in severity of AV disease, LV volumes, ejection fraction and GLS) were observed between the treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Among hypertensive patients with AV disease, intensive hypertensive therapy resulted in a significant reduction in LV hypertrophy, although progression of AV disease was similar between the treatment groups.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

http://ClinicalTrials.gov (Number NCT03666351).

Statin treatment after surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis is associated with better long-term outcome

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between statin use after surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and long-term risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in a large population-based, nationwide cohort.

METHODS

All patients who underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement due to aortic stenosis in Sweden 2006-2020 and survived 6 months after discharge were included. Individual patient data from 5 nationwide registries were merged. Primary outcome is MACE (defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction or stroke). Multivariable Cox regression model adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, valve type, operation year and secondary prevention medications is used to evaluate the association between time-updated dispense of statins and long-term outcome in the entire study population and in subgroups based on age, sex and comorbidities.

RESULTS

A total of 11 894 patients were included. Statins were dispensed to 49.8% (5918/11894) of patients at baseline, and 51.0% (874/1713) after 10 years. At baseline, 3.6% of patients were dispensed low dose, 69.4% medium dose and 27.0% high-dose statins. After adjustments, ongoing statin treatment was associated with a reduced risk for MACE [adjusted hazard ratio 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.71-0.83). P < 0.001], mainly driven by a reduction in all-cause mortality [adjusted hazard ratio, 0.70 (0.64-0.76)], P < 0.001. The results were consistent in all subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that statin therapy might be beneficial for patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to establish causality between statin treatment and improved outcome.

Cardiovascular Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease in Octogenarian Population

Limited data are available regarding in-hospital outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in the octogenarian population with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We sought to study the cardiovascular outcomes of TAVI in CKD hospitalization with different stages at the national cohort registry. We used the National Inpatient Sample database to compare TAVI CKD low-grade (LG) (stage I to IIIa, b) versus TAVI CKD high-grade (HG) (stage IV to V) in octogenarians. Outcomes such as inpatient mortality, cardiogenic shock, new permanent pacemaker implantation, acute kidney injury), sudden cardiac arrest, mechanical circulatory support, major bleeding, transfusion, and resource utilization were compared between the 2 cohorts. A total of 74,766 octogenarian patients (TAVI CKD-HG n = 12,220; TAVI CKD-LG n = 62,545) were included in our study. On matched analysis, TAVI CKD-HG had higher odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-2.5, p <0.0001), cardiogenic shock (aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.39, p = 0.0019), permanent pacemaker implantation (aOR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.23, p = 0.0006), acute kidney injury (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.27, p <0.0001), sudden cardiac arrest (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.61, p = 0.004), major bleeding (aOR 1.1, 95% CI 1.006 to 1.22, p <0.0368) and higher rates of blood transfusion (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.5 to 1.75, p <0.0001) when compared with the TAVI CKD-LG cohort. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the odds of cerebrovascular accident and mechanical circulatory support use between the 2 groups.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Past, present, and future

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a ground-breaking, minimally invasive alternative to traditional open-heart surgery, primarily designed for elderly patients initially considered unsuitable for surgical intervention due to severe aortic stenosis. As a result of successful large-scale trials, TAVR is now being routinely applied to a broader spectrum of patients. In deciding between TAVR and surgical aortic valve replacement, clinicians evaluate various factors, including patient suitability and anatomy through preprocedural imaging, which guides prosthetic valve sizing and access site selection. Patient surgical risk is a pivotal consideration, with a multidisciplinary team making the ultimate decision in the patient's best interest. Periprocedural imaging aids real-time visualization but is influenced by anaesthesia choices. A comprehensive postprocedural assessment is critical due to potential TAVR-related complications. Numerous trials have demonstrated that TAVR matches or surpasses surgery for patients with diverse surgical risk profiles, ranging from extreme to low risk. However, long-term follow-up data, particularly in low-risk cases, remains limited, and the applicability of published results to younger patients is uncertain. This review delves into key TAVR studies, pinpointing areas for potential improvement while delving into the future of this innovative procedure. Furthermore, it explores the expanding role of TAVR technology in addressing other heart valve replacement procedures.

Physician assessment of aortic stenosis severity, quantitative parameters, and long-term outcomes: Results from the KP-VALVE project

BACKGROUND

Contemporary outcomes for aortic stenosis (AS) and the association between physician-assessed AS severity and quantitative parameters is poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate AS natural history, compare outcomes for physicians' AS assessment vs. quantitative parameters, and identify AS parameters with the most explanatory power.

METHODS

We ascertained physician-assessed AS severity, echocardiographic parameters, and clinical data for 546,769 patients from 2008-2018, examined multivariable associations of physician-assessed AS severity and number of quantitative severe AS parameters with death, cardiovascular hospitalization, and aortic valve replacement, and estimated the relative contribution of different quantitative AS parameters on outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 49,604 AS patients (mean [SD] age 77 [11] years), 17.6% had moderate, 3.6% moderate-severe, and 9.4% severe AS. During median 3.7 [IQR 1.7-6.8] years, physician-assessed AS severity strongly correlated with outcomes, with moderate AS patients tracking closest to mild AS, and moderate-to-severe AS patients more comparable to severe AS. Although the number of quantitative severe AS parameters strongly predicted outcomes (adjusted HR [95% CI] for death 1.40 [1.34-1.46], 1.70 [1.56-1.85], and 1.78 [1.63-1.94] for 1, 2, and 3 parameters, respectively), aortic valve area <1.0 cm2 was the most frequent severe AS parameter, explained the largest relative contribution (67%), and was common in patients classified as moderate (21%) or moderate-severe (56%) AS.

CONCLUSIONS

Physician-assessed AS severity predicts outcomes, with cumulative effects for each severe AS parameter. Moderate AS includes a wide spectrum of patients, with discordant AVA <1.0 cm2 being both common and predictive. Better identification of non-classical severe AS phenotypes may improve outcomes.

Adipokines are possible risk markers for aortic stenosis requiring surgery

OBJECTIVES

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent valvular heart disease among adults. The adipocyte-derived hormones, leptin and adiponectin, have profound metabolic actions. We examined whether these adipokines are independently associated with future aortic valve replacement (AVR).

DESIGN

In this longitudinal case-control study, we identified 336 cases who had undergone AVR due to AS, and who had previously participated in population-based health surveys. Two referents were matched to each case and leptin and adiponectin concentrations were analysed from stored baseline survey samples. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the risk of future AVR. An additional cohort was identified for validation including 106 cases with AVR and 212 matched referents.

RESULTS

Median age (interquartile range (IQR)) in years at survey was 59.9 (10.4) and at surgery 68.3 (12.7), and 48% were women. An elevated concentration of leptin was not associated with future AVR (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) (1.10 [0.92-1.32]), although leptin was associated with a higher risk in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) having more than 5 years between survey and AVR (1.41 [1.08-1.84]). Adiponectin was not associated with higher risk for future AVR (0.95 [0.82-1.11]), although after stratification for age, higher levels were associated with reduced risk for AVR in persons aged ≥60 years at surgery (0.79 [0.64-0.98]). In the validation study, leptin was associated with future AVR whereas adiponectin was not. None of the associations remained significant after adjustment for body mass index (BMI).

CONCLUSIONS

The adipokine leptin may promote the development of AS.

Chronic kidney disease is a key risk factor for aortic stenosis progression

BACKGROUND

Rapid progression of aortic stenosis (AS) has been observed in patients undergoing dialysis, but existing cross-sectional evidence is contradictory in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present study sought to evaluate whether CKD is associated with the progression of AS over time in a large cohort of patients with AS.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied all consecutive patients diagnosed with AS [peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax) ≥2.5 m/s] and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% in the echocardiography laboratories of two tertiary centers between 2000 and 2018. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (mL/min/1.73 m2) was calculated from serum creatinine values. Patients were divided into five CKD stages according to the baseline eGFR. Annual rates of change in the aortic valve area (AVA) were determined by a linear mixed-effects model.

RESULTS

Among the 647 patients included, 261 (40%) had CKD. After a median follow-up of 2.9 (interquartile range 1.8-4.8) years, the mean overall rate of change in AVA was -0.077 (95% confidence interval -0.082; -0.073) cm2/year. There was an inverse relationship between the progression rate and kidney function. The more severe the CKD stage, the greater the AVA narrowing (P < .001). By multivariable linear regression analysis, the eGFR was also negatively associated (P < .001) with AS progression. An eGFR strata below 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 was associated with higher odds of rapid progression of AS than normal kidney function. During the clinical follow-up, event-free survival (patients free of aortic valve replacement or death) decreased as CKD progressed. Rapid progression of AS in patients with kidney dysfunction was associated with worse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CKD exhibit more rapid progression of AS over time and require close monitoring. The link between kidney dysfunction and rapid progression of AS is still unknown and requires further research.

The Management of Coronary Artery Disease in TAVR Patients

About half of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) recipients exhibit some degree of coronary artery disease (CAD), and controversial results have been reported regarding the impact of the presence and severity of CAD on clinical outcomes post-TAVR. In addition to coronary angiography, promising data has been recently reported on the use of both cardiac computed tomography angiography and the functional invasive assessment of coronary lesions whether by FFR or iFR in the work-up pre-TAVR. Despite mitigated available data, percutaneous revascularization of significant coronary lesions has been the routine strategy in TAVR candidates with CAD. Additionally, scarce data exists on the incidence, characteristics and management of coronary events post-TAVR, and increasing interest exists on the potential coronary access challenges in patients requiring coronary angiography/intervention post-TAVR. This review provides an updated overview of the knowledge of CAD in TAVR recipients, focusing on its prevalence, clinical impact, pre- and post-procedural evaluation and management.

Aortic Valve Calcium Score by Computed Tomography as an Adjunct to Echocardiographic Assessment-A Review of Clinical Utility and Applications

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is increasing in prevalence due to the aging population, and severe AS is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography remains the mainstay for the initial detection and diagnosis of AS, as well as for grading of severity. However, there are important subgroups of patients, for example, patients with low-flow low-gradient or paradoxical low-gradient AS, where quantification of severity of AS is challenging by echocardiography and underestimation of severity may delay appropriate management and impart a worse prognosis. Aortic valve calcium score by computed tomography has emerged as a useful clinical diagnostic test that is complimentary to echocardiography, particularly in cases where there may be conflicting data or clinical uncertainty about the degree of AS. In these situations, aortic valve calcium scoring may help re-stratify grading of severity and, therefore, further direct clinical management. This review presents the evolution of aortic valve calcium score by computed tomography, its diagnostic and prognostic value, as well as its utility in clinical care.

Modulation of inflammatory M1-macrophages phenotype by valvular interstitial cells

BACKGROUND

Aortic valve stenosis involves inflammation, excess deposition of a collagen-rich extracellular matrix, and calcification. Recent studies have shown that M1 or inflammatory macrophages derived from infiltrating monocytes promote calcification of valvular interstitial cells, the most prevalent cell type of the aortic valve. We hypothesized that valvular interstitial cells could modulate inflammatory macrophages phenotype.

METHODS

We first assessed macrophage phenotype in human aortic valve stenosis and control aortic valves from donors. Then, we examined profibrotic and inflammatory-related gene expression in valves and valvular interstitial cells. Finally, we investigated whether valvular interstitial cells can modify the phenotype of inflammatory macrophages.

RESULTS

Circulating monocytes and plasma transforming growth factor beta-1 levels of patients with aortic valve stenosis were significantly higher compared with patients without aortic valve stenosis. Histologic analysis of thickened spongiosa of the aortic valve from patients with aortic valve stenosis showed a high macrophage infiltration but a low matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression compared with control aortic valves. On the other hand, valvular interstitial cell culture of aortic valve stenosis exhibited a profibrotic phenotype with a high expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 and transforming growth factor beta-1/transforming growth factor beta-3 ratio but a decreased expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma nuclear receptor. Valvular interstitial cell-conditioned media of aortic valve stenosis led to a decrease in enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and an increase in production of collagen in inflammatory macrophages compared with valvular interstitial cell-conditioned media from control aortic valve donors.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that profibrotic valvular interstitial cells promote the imbalance of extracellular matrix remodeling by reducing matrix metalloproteinase-9 production on inflammatory macrophages that lead to excessive collagen deposition observed in aortic valve stenosis. Further investigation is needed to clarify the role of transforming growth factor beta-1/proliferator-activated receptor gamma nuclear receptor/matrix metalloproteinase-9 in aortic valve stenosis.

The Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), which is involved in osteogenic reprogramming of valvular interstitial cells, is the most common form of valve disease. It still lacks effective pharmacologic intervention, as its cellular biological mechanisms remain unclear. Congenital abnormality (bicuspid valve) and older age are considered to be the most powerful risk factors for CAVD. Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) and calcific aortic stenosis (CAS), 2 subclinical forms of CAVD, represent 2 distinct stages of aortic valve calcification. During the AVS stage, the disease is characterised by endothelial activation/damage, inflammatory response, and lipid infiltration accompanied by microcalcification. The CAS stage is dominated by calcification, resulting in valvular dysfunction and severe obstruction to cardiac outflow, which is life threatening if surgery is not performed in time. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, a state in which conditions disrupting ER homeostasis cause an accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins in the ER lumen, has been shown to promote osteogenic differentiation and aortic valve calcification. Therefore, identifying targets or drugs for suppressing ER stress may be a novel approach for CAVD treatment.

Independent association of aortic stenosis with many known cardiovascular risk factors and many inflammatory diseases

BACKGROUND

Aortic valve stenosis is associated with age, rheumatic fever and bicuspid aortic valve, but its association with other co-morbidities, such as inflammatory disease and race/ethnicity, is less known.

AIM

To investigate any association between aortic stenosis and many co-morbidities.

METHODS

We used the large Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to evaluate any association between aortic stenosis and risk factors. We performed univariate and multivariable analyses, adjusting for co-morbid conditions.

RESULTS

Data were extracted from the first available database that used the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes specifically coding for aortic stenosis alone, spanning from 2016 to 2020 (n=112,982,565). A total of 2,322,649 patients had aortic stenosis; the remaining 110,659,916 served as controls. We found a strong and independent significant association between aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease (odds ratio [OR]: 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.09-2.13), smoking (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.07-1.08), diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.14-1.16), hypertension (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.4-1.42), hyperlipidaemia (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.3-1.32), renal disease (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.29-1.31), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.04-1.05), obesity (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.29-1.32), white race/ethnicity (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.42-1.52), rheumatoid arthritis (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.11-1.15), scleroderma (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.79-2.09), systemic connective tissue disease (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.2-1.27), polyarteritis nodosa (OR: 1.5, CI: 1.24-1.81) and Raynaud's syndrome (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09-1.24) (all P<0.001), in addition to known factors, such as age, male sex and bicuspid aortic valve.

CONCLUSION

Using a very large database, we found many new associations with aortic valve stenosis, including race/ethnicity, renal disease, several inflammatory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity, in addition to many other known cardiovascular risk factors.

Exploring the significance of epicardial adipose tissue in aortic valve stenosis and left ventricular remodeling: Unveiling novel therapeutic and prognostic markers of disease

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a dynamic degenerative process that shares many pathophysiological features with atherogenesis, from initial proinflammatory calcification and focal thickening of the valve leaflets to obstruction of left ventricular outflow due to superimposed of severe calcification and immobilization of the valve leaflets. As the prevalence increases with age, AS is expected to become one of the most common heart diseases worldwide. In both obese and nonobese patients, persistent thickening of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with a shift in its normal metabolic functions toward a dysmetabolic and proatherogenic phenotype that may impair the physiology of adjacent coronary arteries and promote the occurrence of coronary atherosclerosis. In tight analogy with atherosclerosis, recent clinical evidence indicates that EAT may also exert a deleterious role in promoting AS and contributing to myocardial dysfunction, leading to increased health risk for elderly patients with AS and an economic burden on the health care system. This review discusses the clinical and pathologic evidence for the association between EAT and AS and concomitant left ventricular hypertrophy, and provides new insights for the future direction of AS diagnosis and treatment.

Exploring molecular profiles of calcification in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells and aortic valvular interstitial cells

Cardiovascular calcification can occur in vascular and valvular structures and is commonly associated with calcium deposition and tissue mineralization leading to stiffness and dysfunction. Patients with chronic kidney disease and associated hyperphosphatemia have an elevated risk for coronary artery calcification (CAC) and calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). However, there is mounting evidence to suggest that the susceptibility and pathobiology of calcification in these two cardiovascular structures may be different, yet clinically they are similarly treated. To better understand diversity in molecular and cellular processes that underlie hyperphosphatemia-induced calcification in vascular and valvular structures, we exposed aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (AVSMCs) and aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs) to high (2.5 mM) phosphate (Ph) conditions in vitro, and examined cell-specific responses. To further identify hyperphosphatemic-specific responses, parallel studies were performed using osteogenic media (OM) as an alternative calcific stimulus. Consistent with clinical observations made by others, we show that AVSMCs are more susceptible to calcification than AVICs. In addition, bulk RNA-sequencing reveals that AVSMCs and AVICs activate robust ossification-programs in response to high phosphate or OM treatments, however, the signaling pathways, cellular processes and osteogenic-associated markers involved are cell- and treatment-specific. For example, compared to VSMCs, VIC-mediated calcification involves biological processes related to osteo-chondro differentiation and down regulation of 'actin cytoskeleton'-related genes, that are not observed in VSMCs. Furthermore, hyperphosphatemic-induced calcification in AVICs and AVSMCs is independent of P13K signaling, which plays a role in OM-treated cells. Together, this study provides a wealth of information suggesting that the pathogenesis of cardiovascular calcifications is significantly more diverse than previously appreciated.

Secondary analysis of REPRISE III trial: The Lotus valve's persistence after withdrawal

INTRODUCTION

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the leading heart valve disease in developed countries, often caused by calcific degeneration. In low-and-middle-income countries, it's primarily due to RHD. Prevalence of AS increases with age and up to 22.8% of those affected over the age of 75. While surgical aortic valve replacement is standard treatment for AS, many older individuals are not ideal candidates. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) offers an alternative. The REPRISE III trial showed the Lotus valve outperformed the CoreValve/EvolutR TAVR valves in various metrics over 2 years. Despite its success and over 10,000 implantations, the Lotus valve was pulled from the market, highlighting the need to understand its long-term outcomes. Study and results: In the REPRISE III trial, the long-term outcomes of TAVR using the Lotus valve were compared to the CoreValve/EvolutR over 5 years across 55 global centers. Of the participants, 581 (95.7%) used the Lotus valve and 285 (93.4%) used CoreValve/EvolutR. Event rates for all-cause mortality were similar between the groups, but the Lotus valve group had lower rates of disabling stroke and pacemaker implantation. The Lotus valve showed a higher aortic gradient but lower effective orifice area. Additionally, the Lotus valve had reduced mild PVL, valve malpositioning, and the need for a second valve. Both groups showed comparable long-term improvements in heart and cardiomyopathy assessments.

LESSONS LEARNED

The REPRISE III analysis highlights the favourable long-term outcomes of the Lotus valve and CoreValve/EvolutR for high-risk surgical patients. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing management post-valve procedure and the potential advantages of the Lotus valve design. Further studies comparing these valves to surgery will inform aortic stenosis management and potentially expand TAVR indications. The future goal is to develop a tissue-engineered living heart valve to improve survival and quality of life.

Evolving technology: the TRIFLO tri-leaflet mechanical valve without oral anticoagulation: a potential major innovation in valve surgery

The aortic valve is the most frequently diseased valve and aortic stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent valvular heart disease in developed countries. The diseased native aortic valve can be replaced by either a biological or mechanical valve prosthesis. The main concerns relate to durability, the need for oral anticoagulants and the incidence of complications related to this medication. Experimental, computational and biomolecular blood flow studies have demonstrated that the systolic forward flow but also the reverse flow phase at the end of the systole and leakage during the diastolic phase is mainly responsible for platelet activation and thrombosis. Better design of mechanical prosthetic heart valves must ensure smooth closing during flow deceleration and must eliminate high-shear hinge flow during diastole to prevent life-threatening thrombosis. A novel tri-leaflet valve should combine the favorable hemodynamics and the durability of existing mechanical heart valves and eliminate the less favorable characteristics, including the extremely rapid closing. In this paper, we discuss some issues of current mechanical heart valve prostheses and present a new valve design with the potential for significant innovation in the field. The TRIFLO Heart Valve, is a rigid, three-leaflet central flow heart valve prosthesis consisting of an alloyed titanium housing, and three rigid polymer (PEEK) cusps. This valve has a physiological operating mode. During the forward flow phase, the intraventricular pressure opens the leaflets so that blood can freely flow through with little obstruction, and with the deceleration of the blood flow, the leaflets close early and smoothly, minimizing blood flow regurgitation, blood cell damage, and activation of the coagulation cascade. Pre-clinical studies have shown pretty favorable results and a first-in-man study should start very soon.

Aortic Annulus Detection Based on Deep Learning for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Using Cardiac Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND

To propose a deep learning architecture for automatically detecting the complex structure of the aortic annulus plane using cardiac computed tomography (CT) for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

METHODS

This study retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who underwent TAVR between January 2017 and July 2020 at a tertiary medical center. Annulus Detection Permuted AdaIN network (ADPANet) based on a three-dimensional (3D) U-net architecture was developed to detect and localize the aortic annulus plane using cardiac CT. Patients (N = 72) who underwent TAVR between January 2017 and July 2020 at a tertiary medical center were enrolled. Ground truth using a limited dataset was delineated manually by three cardiac radiologists. Training, tuning, and testing sets (70:10:20) were used to build the deep learning model. The performance of ADPANet for detecting the aortic annulus plane was analyzed using the root mean square error (RMSE) and dice similarity coefficient (DSC).

RESULTS

In this study, the total dataset consisted of 72 selected scans from patients who underwent TAVR. The RMSE and DSC values for the aortic annulus plane using ADPANet were 55.078 ± 35.794 and 0.496 ± 0.217, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our deep learning framework was feasible to detect the 3D complex structure of the aortic annulus plane using cardiac CT for TAVR. The performance of our algorithms was higher than other convolutional neural networks.

Outcome of Patients With Both Moderate Aortic Stenosis and Moderate Mitral Stenosis

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the symptoms and prognosis of patients with both moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and mitral stenosis (MS).

Methods and Results

We studied 82 patients with moderate AS and MS diagnosed via transthoracic echocardiography. The patients had a mean age of 79 ± 13 years and 95% of patients had degenerative MS. Out of 82 patients, 34 (41%) had heart failure (HF) symptoms (New York Heart Association class ≥ Ⅱ) or a history of HF admission. Left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume index, atrial fibrillation, and right ventricular systolic pressure were independent determinants of HF symptoms. The median follow-up duration was 3.2 (interquartile range, 1.0-4.9) years and clinical events occurred in 48 (59%) patients, including death in 11 (13%) patients, aortic or mitral valve interventions in 22 (27%) patients, and HF hospitalization in 15 (18%) patients. The 5-year survival free of the combined endpoint of aortic or mitral valve interventions, HF hospitalization, or death was 19%. A multivariate predictor of clinical events was HF symptoms (hazard ratio [HR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-4.14; p = 0.0045). Kaplan-Meier survival at 5 years was 61% without intervention and HF symptoms were not associated with mortality.

Conclusions

Among patients with both moderate AS and MS, left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume index, atrial fibrillation, and right ventricular systolic pressure were strong determinants of HF symptoms. HF symptoms were independently predictive of clinical events.

Sam68 promotes osteogenic differentiation of aortic valvular interstitial cells by TNF-α/STAT3/autophagy axis

Calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a major non-rheumatic heart valve disease in the world, with a high mortality rate and without suitable pharmaceutical therapy due to its complex mechanisms. Src-associated in mitosis 68-KD (Sam68), an RNA binding protein, has been reported as a signaling adaptor in numerous signaling pathways (Huot in Mol Cell Biol, 29(7), 1933-1943, 2009), particularly in inflammatory signaling pathways. The effects of Sam68 on the osteogenic differentiation process of hVICs and its regulation on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway have been investigated in this study. Human aortic valve samples detection found that Sam68 expression was up-regulated in human calcific aortic valves. We used tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) as an activator for osteogenic differentiation in vitro and the result indicated that Sam68 was highly expressed after TNF-α stimulation. Overexpression of Sam68 promoted osteogenic differentiation of hVICs while Sam68 knockdown reversed this effect. Sam68 interaction with STAT3 was predicted by using String database and was verified in this study. Sam68 knockdown reduced phosphorylation of STAT3 activated by TNF-α and the downstream gene expression, which further influenced autophagy flux in hVICs. STAT3 knockdown alleviated the osteogenic differentiation and calcium deposition promoted by Sam68 overexpression. In conclusion, Sam68 interacts with STAT3 and participates in its phosphorylation to promote osteogenic differentiation of hVICs to induce valve calcification. Thus, Sam68 may be a new therapeutic target for CAVD. Regulatory of Sam68 in TNF-α/STAT3/Autophagy Axis in promoting osteogenesis of hVICs.

Multimodality Imaging of Aortic Valve Calcification and Function in a Murine Model of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease and Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a prevailing disease with increasing occurrence and no known medical therapy. Dcbld2-/- mice have a high prevalence of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), spontaneous aortic valve calcification, and aortic stenosis (AS). 18F-NaF PET/CT can detect the aortic valve calcification process in humans. However, its feasibility in preclinical models of CAVD remains to be determined. Here, we sought to validate 18F-NaF PET/CT for tracking murine aortic valve calcification and leveraged it to examine the development of calcification with aging and its interdependence with BAV and AS in Dcbld2-/- mice. Methods: Dcbld2-/- mice at 3-4 mo, 10-16 mo, and 18-24 mo underwent echocardiography, 18F-NaF PET/CT (n = 34, or autoradiography (n = 45)), and tissue analysis. A subset of mice underwent both PET/CT and autoradiography (n = 12). The aortic valve signal was quantified as SUVmax on PET/CT and as percentage injected dose per square centimeter on autoradiography. The valve tissue sections were analyzed by microscopy to identify tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valves. Results: The aortic valve 18F-NaF signal on PET/CT was significantly higher at 18-24 mo (P < 0.0001) and 10-16 mo (P < 0.05) than at 3-4 mo. Additionally, at 18-24 mo BAV had a higher 18F-NaF signal than tricuspid aortic valves (P < 0.05). These findings were confirmed by autoradiography, with BAV having significantly higher 18F-NaF uptake in each age group. A significant correlation between PET and autoradiography data (Pearson r = 0.79, P < 0.01) established the accuracy of PET quantification. The rate of calcification with aging was significantly faster for BAV (P < 0.05). Transaortic valve flow velocity was significantly higher in animals with BAV at all ages. Finally, there was a significant correlation between transaortic valve flow velocity and aortic valve calcification by both PET/CT (r = 0.55, P < 0.001) and autoradiography (r = 0.45, P < 0.01). Conclusion: 18F-NaF PET/CT links valvular calcification to BAV and aging in Dcbld2-/- mice and suggests that AS may promote calcification. In addition to addressing the pathobiology of valvular calcification, 18F-NaF PET/CT may be a valuable tool for evaluation of emerging therapeutic interventions in CAVD.

Accelerated T-Cell Immunosenescence in Cytomegalovirus-Seropositive Individuals After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major driver of accelerated immunosenescence related to CD28null T cell expansion. CMV infection and these proatherogenic T cells have been independently associated with cardiovascular disease and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. We investigated the potential contribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to immunosenescence and its relationship with CMV. Innate and adaptive immune subpopulations from individuals with mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (mCOVID-19) and healthy donors were immunophenotyped. A significant increase in CD28nullCD57+CX3CR1+ T cell percentages (CD4+ [P ≤ .01], CD8+ [P ≤ .01], and TcRγδ (CD4-CD8-) [P ≤ .001]) was found in unnvaccinated CMV-seropositive mCOVID-19 individuals stable up to 12 months after infection. This expansion did not occur in CMV-seronegative mCOVID-19 individuals or in CMV-seropositive individuals infected after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. There were no significant differences between mCOVID-19 and aortic stenosis groups. Thus, individuals coinfected with SARS-CoV-2 and CMV have accelerated T cell senescence, which might lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Effectiveness of Pre-TAVR CTA as a Screening Tool for Significant CAD Before TAVR

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) are routinely performed before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to assess aortic root anatomy and screen for coronary artery disease (CAD), respectively.

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the efficacy of CTA as a screening tool for significant proximal CAD before TAVR.

METHODS

With proper ethical oversight, patients undergoing TAVR at Cleveland Clinic with a preprocedural CTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA), and no prior percutaneous intervention, were identified from 2015 to 2021. Blinded to ICA results, the authors reviewed the left main, proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, proximal left circumflex coronary artery, and proximal right coronary artery by CTA coronary reconstruction to assess for nonsignificant stenosis (0% to 49%), moderate stenosis (50% to 69%), and severe stenosis (≥70%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and Cohen Kappa statistic were analyzed.

RESULTS

2,217 patients (53.4% male, age 79.2 ± 8.5 years) met inclusion criteria. CTA evaluation revealed a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 92%, PPV of 74%, and NPV of 97% for detecting ≥50% stenosis. Using a ≥70% stenosis cutoff, evaluation revealed a sensitivity of 91%, specificity of 97%, PPV of 83%, and NPV of 99%. Assessment of bypass graft patency revealed a sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 97%, PPV of 84%, and NPV of 98%. Cohen Kappa analysis indicated substantial to near perfect agreement between pre-TAVR CTA and ICA.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-TAVR CTA has a high NPV for high-grade proximal stenosis of each coronary artery. As a result, CTA can be used as a screening tool to rule out significant proximal CAD in patients undergoing TAVR.

Invasive Functional Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis in the TAVI Era

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common finding in patients suffering from aortic valve stenosis (AS), with a prevalence of over 50% in patients 70 years of age or older. Transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI) is the standard treatment option for patients with severe AS and at least 75 years of age. Current guidelines recommend percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients planned for TAVI with stenoses of >70% in the proximal segments of non-left main coronary arteries and in >50% of left main stenoses. While the guidelines on myocardial revascularization clearly recommend functional assessment of coronary artery stenoses of less than 90% in the absence of non-invasive ischemia testing, a statement regarding invasive functional testing in AS patients with concomitant CAD is lacking in the recently published guideline on the management of valvular heart disease. This review aims to provide an overview of the hemodynamic background in AS patients, discusses and summarizes the current evidence of invasive functional testing in patients with severe AS, and gives a future perspective on the ongoing trials on that topic.

Impact of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on progression of aortic valve sclerosis and stenosis

Background

Little research has been assessed atherosclerotic risk factors at various stages of calcific aortic valve disease. This study sought to determine risk factors of patients with aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) and mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods

The study included 1,007 patients diagnosed with AVS or mild to moderate AS according to echocardiographic criteria. Patients were identified as a rapid progression group if the annualized difference in peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax) between two echocardiographic examinations was >0.08 m/s/yr in AVS and >0.3 m/s/yr in AS, respectively. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess the factors associated with rapid disease progression or progression to severe AS.

Results

Among 526 AVS patients, higher LDL-C level (odds ratio [OR] 1.22/per 25 mg/dl higher LDL-C, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.43) was significantly associated with rapid disease progression. Compared to patients with LDL-C level <70 mg/dl, the adjusted OR for rapid progression were 1.32, 2.15, and 2.98 for those with LDL-C level of 70-95 mg/dl, 95-120 mg/dl, and ≥120 mg/dl, respectively. Among 481 mild to moderate AS patients, the baseline Vmax (OR 1.79/per 0.5 m/s higher Vmax, 95% CI 1.18-2.70) was associated with rapid progression. Compared to patients with Vmax 2.0-2.5 m/s, the adjusted OR for rapid progression were 2.47, 2.78, and 3.49 for those with Vmax of 2.5-3.0 m/s, 3.0-3.5 m/s, and 3.5-4.0 m/s, respectively. LDL-C and baseline Vmax values were independently associated with progression to severe AS.

Conclusion

Atherosclerotic risk factors such as LDL-C were significantly associated with the rapid progression in AVS and baseline Vmax was important in the stage of mild to moderate AS.

Lipoprotein(a) and calcific aortic valve disease initiation and progression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Although evidence indicates the association of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] with atherosclerosis, the link with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the connection between Lp(a) and aortic valve calcification and stenosis (AVS). We included all relevant studies, indexed in eight databases, up to February 2023. A total of 44 studies (163 139 subjects) were included, with 16 of them being further meta-analysed. Despite considerable heterogeneity, most studies support the relationship between Lp(a) and CAVD, especially in younger populations, with evidence of early aortic valve micro-calcification in elevated-Lp(a) populations. The quantitative synthesis showed higher Lp(a) levels, by 22.63 nmol/L (95% CI: 9.98-35.27), for patients with AVS, while meta-regressing the data revealed smaller Lp(a) differences for older populations with a higher proportion of females. The meta-analysis of eight studies providing genetic data, revealed that the minor alleles of both rs10455872 and rs3798220 LPA gene loci were associated with higher risk for AVS (pooled odds ratio 1.42; 95% CI: 1.34-1.50 and 1.27; 95% CI: 1.09-1.48, respectively). Importantly, high-Lp(a) individuals displayed not only faster AVS progression, by a mean difference of 0.09 m/s/year (95% CI: 0.09-0.09), but also a higher risk of serious adverse outcomes, including death (pooled hazard ratio 1.39; 95% CI: 1.01-1.90). These summary findings highlight the effect of Lp(a) on CAVD initiation, progression and outcomes, and support the early onset of Lp(a)-related subclinical lesions before clinical evidence.

The Complex Relationship between Hypoxia Signaling, Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Inflammation in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease: Insights from the Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Approaches

Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is among the most common causes of cardiovascular mortality in an aging population worldwide. The pathomechanisms of CAVS are such a complex and multifactorial process that researchers are still making progress to understand its physiopathology as well as the complex players involved in CAVS pathogenesis. Currently, there is no successful and effective treatment to prevent or slow down the disease. Surgical and transcatheter valve replacement represents the only option available for treating CAVS. Insufficient oxygen availability (hypoxia) has a critical role in the pathogenesis of almost all CVDs. This process is orchestrated by the hallmark transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha subunit (HIF-1α), which plays a pivotal role in regulating various target hypoxic genes and metabolic adaptations. Recent studies have shown a great deal of interest in understanding the contribution of HIF-1α in the pathogenesis of CAVS. However, it is deeply intertwined with other major contributors, including sustained inflammation and mitochondrial impairments, which are attributed primarily to CAVS. The present review aims to cover the latest understanding of the complex interplay effect of hypoxia signaling pathways, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation in CAVS. We propose further hypotheses and interconnections on the complexity of these impacts in a perspective of better understanding the pathophysiology. These interplays will be examined considering recent studies that shall help us better dissect the molecular mechanism to enable the design and development of potential future therapeutic approaches that can prevent or slow down CAVS processes.

The common pathobiology between coronary artery disease and calcific aortic stenosis: Evidence and clinical implications

Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAS), the most prevalent valvular disease worldwide, has been demonstrated to frequently occur in conjunction with coronary artery disease (CAD), the third leading cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis has been proven to be the main mechanism involved in CAS and CAD. Evidence also exists that obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (among others), along with specific genes involved in lipid metabolism, are important risk factors for CAS and CAD, leading to common pathological processes of atherosclerosis in both diseases. Therefore, it has been suggested that CAS could also be used as a marker of CAD. An understanding of the commonalities between the two conditions may improve therapeutic strategies for treating both CAD and CAS. This review explores the common pathogenesis and disparities between CAS and CAD, alongside their etiology. It also discusses clinical implications and provides evidence-based recommendations for the clinical management of both diseases.

Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Disparities in Valvular Heart Failure Management

Racial, ethnic, and gender disparities are present in the diagnosis and management of valvular heart disease. The prevalence of valvular heart disease varies by race, ethnicity, and gender, but diagnostic evaluations are not equitable across the groups, which makes the true prevalence less clear. The delivery of evidence-based treatments for valvular heart disease is not equitable. This article focuses on the epidemiology of valvular heart diseases associated with heart failure and the related disparities in treatment, with a focus on how to improve delivery of nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatments.

Influencing factors of cardiac valve calcification (CVC) in patients with chronic kidney disease and the impact of CVC on long-term prognosis: a single-center retrospective study

Objective

To investigate the effect of cardiac valve calcification (CVC) on the prognosis of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

A total of 343 CKD patients were retrospectively analyzed, and divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of cardiac valve calcification. All patients were followed until death, loss to follow-up, or the end point of the study (December 2021).

Results

The incidence of CVC among the 343 CKD patients was 29.7%, including 21 cases of mitral valve calcification, 63 cases of aortic valve calcification, and 18 cases of mitral valve combined with aortic valve calcification. The incidence of CVC in CKD stages 1-2 was 0.3%, 5.2% in CKD stages 3-4, and 24.2% in CKD stage 5 (P < 0.05). Advanced age, higher serum albumin, higher cystatin C and lower uric acid levels were all associated with a higher risk of CVC. After six years of follow-up, 77 patients (22.4%) died. The causes of death were cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in 36 cases (46.7%), infection in 29 cases (37.7%), gastrointestinal bleeding in nine cases (11.7%), and "other" in the remaining three cases (3.9%). A Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed that the overall survival rate of patients with CVC was lower than that of patients without CVC.

Conclusion

The incidence of CVC, mainly aortic calcification, is high in patients with CKD. Advanced age, higher serum albumin and higher cystatin C levels were associated with a higher risk of CVC. Hyperuricemia was associated with a lower risk of CVC. The overall survival rate of patients with CVC was lower than that of patients without CVC.

Lipoprotein(a) As a Potential Predictive Factor for Earlier Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) affects 0.5-2% of the general population and constitutes the major cause of severe aortic valve stenosis (AVS) in individuals ≤70 years. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the parameters that may provide information about the risk of AVS developing in BAV patients, with particular emphasis on lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), which is a well-recognized risk factor for stenosis in the general population. We also analyzed the impact of autotaxin (ATX) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as parameters potentially related to the pathomechanism of Lp(a) action. We found that high Lp(a) levels (>50 mg/dL) occurred significantly more frequently in patients with AVS than in patients without AVS, both in the group below and above 45 years of age (p = 0.036 and p = 0.033, respectively). Elevated Lp(a) levels were also strictly associated with the need for aortic valve replacement (AVR) at a younger age (p = 0.016). However, the Lp(a) concentration did not differ significantly between patients with and without AVS. Similarly, we observed no differences in ATX between the analyzed patient groups, and both ATX activity and concentration correlated significantly with Lp(a) level (R = 0.465, p < 0.001 and R = 0.599, p < 0.001, respectively). We revealed a significantly higher concentration of IL-6 in young patients with AVS. However, this observation was not confirmed in the group of patients over 45 years of age. We also did not observe a significant correlation between IL-6 and Lp(a) or between CRP and Lp(a) in any of the analyzed groups of BAV patients. Our results demonstrate that a high level of Lp(a), greater than 50 mg/dL, may be a significant predictive factor for earlier AVR. Lp(a)-related parameters, such as ATX and IL-6, may be valuable in providing information about the additional cardiovascular risks associated with developing AVS.

Aortic Stenosis Phenotypes and Precision Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Patients with a clinical indication for aortic valve replacement can either undergo surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). There are many different factors that go into determining which type of replacement to undergo, including age, life expectancy, comorbidities, frailty, and patient preference. While both options offer significant benefits to patients in terms of clinical outcomes and quality of life, there is growing interest in expanding the indications for TAVI due to its minimally invasive approach. However, it is worth noting that there are several discrepancies in TAVI outcomes in regards to various endpoints, including death, stroke, and major cardiovascular events. It is unclear why these discrepancies exist, but potential explanations include the diversity of etiologies for aortic stenosis, complex patient comorbidities, and ongoing advancements in both medical therapies and devices. Of these possibilities, we propose that phenotypic variation of aortic stenosis has the most significant impact on post-TAVI clinical outcomes. Such variability in phenotypes is often due to a complex interplay between underlying comorbidities and environmental and inherent patient risk factors. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that patient genetics may also play a role in aortic stenosis pathology. As such, we propose that the selection and management of TAVI patients should emphasize a precision medicine approach.

Association of citrullination with the progression of aortic stenosis

Despite its clinical importance, biomarkers of disease activity in aortic stenosis (AS) are lacking. We investigated the association between anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies and AS. All 678 patients who underwent echocardiography and anti-CCP antibody testing were analysed. Anti-CCP antibody status was categorized as negative, low-positive, and high-positive. In addition, aortic valve (AV) tissues were obtained from the patients with and without AS to analyze the presence of citrullinated proteins. At baseline, 241 (35.5%) subjects with AV degeneration had a higher rate of anti-CCP antibody positivity (42.7% versus 34.6%, p = 0.035) than those without AV degeneration. Out of the 331 (48.8%) subjects who underwent echocardiographic follow-up, progression of AS was observed in 34 (10.3%) patients, with a higher incidence in the high-positive group compared to the low-positive or negative group (19.0% vs. 11.3% vs. 8.4%, respectively; p = 0.041). On multivariable analysis, high anti-CCP antibody positivity was independently associated with progression to AS (odds ratio: 2.312; 95% confidence interval: 1.006-5.310; p = 0.048). Furthermore, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting revealed increased citrullination in diseased AV compared to normal AV tissue. This study demonstrated that a high positive anti-CCP antibody result is associated with AV degeneration and may be an independent factor for AS progression.

Pulse Wave Morphology Changes in Aortic Valve Stenosis Detected with Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index

Background

Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAV) is a measure of systemic arterial stiffness and has been shown to increase after aortic valve surgery. However, change in CAVI-derived pulse wave morphology has not previously been addressed.

Case Study

A 72-year-old female was transferred to a large center for heart valve interventions for evaluation of her aortic stenosis. Few co-morbidities were detected on medical history, other than previous radiation treatment for breast cancer, and no signs of other concomitant cardiovascular disease. The patient was accepted for surgical aortic valve replacement due to severe aortic valve stenosis and arterial stiffness was assessed with CAVI, as part of an ongoing clinical study. The pre-operative CAVI was 4.7 which after surgery increased almost 100% to 9.35. In tandem, the slope of systolic upstroke pulse morphology captured from brachial cuffs was changed from a prolonged flattened pattern to a steeper.

Conclusion

After aortic valve replacement surgery due to aortic valve stenosis, in addition to increased CAVI-derived measures of arterial stiffness, the slope of the CAVI-derived upstroke pulse wave morphology changes to a steeper slope. This finding could have implications in the future of aortic valve stenosis screening and utilization of CAVI.

Computed tomography-based pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation in patients undergoing TAVR: a novel method for risk assessment

Objectives

This study aims to assess the attenuation of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) surrounding the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). RCA PCAT attenuation is a novel computed tomography (CT)-based marker for evaluating coronary inflammation. Coronary artery disease (CAD) in TAVR patients is common and usually evaluated prior to intervention. The most sensible screening method and consequential treatment approach are unclear and remain a matter of ceaseless discussion. Thus, interest remains for safe and low-demand predictive markers to identify patients at risk for adverse outcomes postaortic valve replacement.

Methods

This single-center retrospective study included patients receiving a standard planning CT scan prior to TAVR. Conventional CAD diagnostic tools, such as coronary artery calcium score and significant stenosis via invasive coronary angiography and coronary computed tomography angiography, were determined in addition to RCA PCAT attenuation using semiautomated software. These were assessed for their relationship with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during a 24-month follow-up period.

Results

From a total of 62 patients (mean age: 82 ± 6.7 years), 15 (24.2%) patients experienced an event within the observation period, 10 of which were attributed to cardiovascular death. The mean RCA PCAT attenuation was higher in patients enduring MACE than that in those without an endpoint (-69.8 ± 7.5 vs. -74.6 ± 6.2, P = 0.02). Using a predefined cutoff of >-70.5 HU, 20 patients (32.3%) with high RCA PCAT attenuation were identified, nine (45%) of which met the endpoint within 2 years after TAVR. In a multivariate Cox regression model including conventional CAD diagnostic tools, RCA PCAT attenuation prevailed as the only marker with significant association with MACE (P = 0.02). After dichotomization of patients into high- and low-RCA PCAT attenuation groups, high attenuation was related to greater risk of MACE (hazard ration: 3.82, P = 0.011).

Conclusion

RCA PCAT attenuation appears to have predictive value also in a setting of concomitant AS in patients receiving TAVR. RCA PCAT attenuation was more reliable than conventional CAD diagnostic tools in identifying patients at risk for MACE .