Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026
Standardized Technique of Aortic Valve Re-implantation for Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement
Published on: December 11, 2017
Does statin therapy impact the proximal aortopathy in aortic valve disease?
T Sequeira Gross1, S Naito1, N Neumann1
1From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Heart Center Hamburg, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, Germany.
Insights
Statin therapy did not significantly affect proximal aortopathy in patients undergoing aortic valve surgery. However, in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), achieving target HDL levels with statins was linked to smaller ascending aorta diameters.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Aortic Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Statin therapy is known to reduce abdominal aortic aneurysm growth.
- The impact of statins on proximal aortic disease remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between statin treatment and the severity of proximal aortopathy in patients with aortic valve disease.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 458 patients undergoing aortic valve surgery (2008-2014).
- Pre-operative proximal aorta measurements via TEE, CT, or MRT.
- Dyslipidemia treatment data collected via questionnaire.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean ascending aorta diameter between statin users and non-users (42.7 mm vs. 43.6 mm).
- Statin therapy showed no significant association with proximal aortopathy (≥ 40 mm) overall.
- In the bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) subgroup, statin users with target HDL levels had smaller proximal aortic diameters (40.1 mm vs. 46 mm).
Conclusions:
- Pre-operative statin use was not significantly associated with proximal aortopathy severity.
- Over 40% of statin users had uncontrolled lipid levels.
- Target HDL and cholesterol levels were strongly associated with reduced aortic dilation in BAV patients.
Background:
Studies have demonstrated that statin therapy decreases the growth rate of abdominal aneurysms. However, the effect of statin therapy on the proximal aortic disease has not been sufficiently elucidated.
Aim:
We aimed to analyse the association between statin treatment and the severity of proximal aortopathy in patients with aortic valve disease.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Methods:
We prospectively identified 458 patients who were referred for aortic valve surgery from 2008 to 2014. Pre-operative measurement of the proximal aorta was performed by TEE, CT or MRT scan. Data of dyslipidemia treatment was obtained by questionnaire.
Results:
The mean ascending aortic diameter in the whole study population was comparable in patients with vs. without statin therapy (i.e. 42.7 mm vs. 43.6 mm, P = 0.46). Logistic regression analysis showed no significant association between statin therapy and proximal aortopathy ≥ 40 mm in the whole study group (OR = 0.69, P = 0.10). For the BAV sub-group, HDL (OR = 0.54, P = 0.038) and cholesterol levels (OR = 2.00, P = 0.038) were found significantly associated with the proximal aortic disease. In the BAV cohort, the statin users with target HDL levels presented a significantly smaller proximal aortic diameter (40.1 mm vs. 46 mm, P = 0.02).
Conclusion:
Pre-operative statin therapy demonstrated no significant association with the expression of proximal aortopathy. However, more than 40% of the statin users presented uncontrolled lipid levels at the time of the study. In the BAV sub-group, the statins users with target HDL levels showed a significantly smaller ascending aorta diameter. Target HDL and cholesterol levels were strongly associated with proximal aortic dilation in BAV patients.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
00:59Gene Therapy
01:20Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents
01:16Heart Valves
The AV valves prevent the backflow of blood from the ventricles to the atria during ventricular contraction. These valves function with the assistance of the chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. When the ventricles are relaxed, the chordae tendineae are slack, allowing blood to flow from the atria into the...
01:19Impact of Groups on Groups
01:30Impact
When particles with different initial velocities collide, they induce deformation by applying equal and opposite impulses. At the point of maximum deformation, the particles move together with...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...