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Severe mitral annular calcification predicts chronic kidney disease

Ammar Jesri1, Leonard E Braitman, Gregg S Pressman

  • 1Department of Medicine, St. Francis Medical Center and Seton Hall University, Trenton, NJ, United States.

International Journal of Cardiology
|July 31, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Severe mitral annular calcification (MAC) in cardiology patients may indicate underlying kidney dysfunction. This finding suggests MAC could serve as a marker for chronic kidney disease, particularly in those without kidney failure.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is prevalent in elderly individuals and shares risk factors with atherosclerosis.
  • MAC is frequently observed in patients undergoing dialysis.
  • The study investigates MAC as a potential indicator of renal dysfunction in cardiology patients without kidney failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if severe mitral annular calcification (MAC) is associated with impaired kidney function in general cardiology patients.
  • To explore the relationship between the severity of MAC and the degree of renal dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Echocardiogram reports were searched to identify patients with severe MAC.
  • Patients were categorized into subgroups based on the extent of calcification and mitral leaflet mobility.
  • A control group with minimal or no intracardiac calcification was included for comparison.

Main Results:

  • Patients with MAC exhibited significantly worse renal function (creatinine and glomerular filtration rate) compared to controls.
  • Nearly 60% of MAC patients met criteria for chronic kidney disease (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m²).
  • A trend suggested declining GFR with increasing severity of MAC, with significantly lower GFR in the "MAC restricted" subgroup.

Conclusions:

  • Severe MAC identified via echocardiography is strongly associated with chronic kidney disease.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the graded relationship between MAC severity and renal dysfunction.
Abstract

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