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Isolation of Mouse Interstitial Valve Cells to Study the Calcification of the Aortic Valve In Vitro
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Relationship of aortic valve calcification with coronary artery calcium severity: the Multi-Ethnic Study of

Khurram Nasir1, Ronit Katz, Mouaz Al-Mallah

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Blalock 524 C, Johns Hopkins University, 600N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. knasir1@jhmi.edu

Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
|February 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is independently linked to coronary artery calcium (CAC) severity. Higher CAC scores significantly increase the likelihood of developing AVC, highlighting a shared atherosclerotic pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Atherosclerosis Research
  • Calcium Scoring

Background:

  • Aortic valve calcification (AVC) and atherosclerosis share common underlying mechanisms.
  • Understanding the relationship between these conditions is crucial for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between the severity of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and the presence of aortic valve calcification (AVC).
  • To evaluate this relationship within the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized non-contrast cardiac computed tomography to assess AVC and CAC in 6809 participants (aged 45-84).
  • Employed relative risk regression to model AVC probability based on CAC presence and severity categories (0, 1-99, 100-399, ≥400).

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of AVC was 13% and CAC was 50%.
  • AVC prevalence increased with CAC severity: 5% (no CAC), 14% (CAC 1-99), 25% (CAC 100-399), and 38% (CAC ≥400).
  • Adjusted analysis showed a significant independent association between higher CAC severity and increased AVC risk (PR 1.83 for mild CAC, 3.36 for severe CAC).

Conclusions:

  • Aortic valve calcification is independently associated with increasing coronary artery calcium severity.
  • Findings suggest shared risk factors and pathways between AVC and coronary atherosclerosis.
Abstract

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