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Scanning electron microscopy for blood micro-crystals in aortic stenosis patients

David S Wald1, Elena Tsolaki2, Jonathan P Bestwick1

  • 1Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

Plos One
|August 24, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Calcium phosphate micro-crystals are found on aortic valves in patients with aortic stenosis. However, this study found no evidence of these crystals precipitating freely in the blood of patients with this heart valve condition.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Biomineralization Studies
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Micro-crystals of calcium phosphate have been observed on the aortic valve in patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis.
  • The origin of these calcium phosphate micro-crystals, whether specific to heart valve tissue or a general blood-derived process, remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of calcium phosphate micro-crystals in the blood of patients with aortic stenosis.
  • To determine if crystal formation is a systemic process or localized to the affected heart valve.

Main Methods:

  • A modified method was developed and validated for detecting calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite micro-crystals in blood samples.
  • The method was applied to analyze blood from 63 patients with aortic stenosis and 69 controls.
  • Serum calcium and phosphate levels were measured, and the calcium phosphate product was compared between groups.

Main Results:

  • The detection method successfully identified synthetic hydroxyapatite micro-crystals down to 0.008mg/mL.
  • No calcium phosphate micro-crystals were detected in the blood of patients with or without aortic stenosis.
  • Serum calcium phosphate levels were significantly higher in patients with aortic stenosis compared to controls (2.6mmol/L vs. 2.47mmol/L).

Conclusions:

  • A positive association between serum calcium phosphate levels and aortic stenosis is confirmed.
  • The study indicates that calcium phosphate particles observed in aortic valve tissue do not freely precipitate in the bloodstream.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms of calcium phosphate deposition in aortic stenosis.
Abstract

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