Age-dependent dystrophic calcification of the aortic valve leaflets in normal subjects

The aortic valves of 43 subjects (14 females and 29 males, mean age 48.9 +/- 22.2 years, range 3-88 years), dying from accidental causes and without any previous record of cardiovascular disease, were studied. The whole aortic root was removed and morphological features recorded. Calcium content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Calcium content sustained a positive significant correlation (p < 0.001) with age. Comparison of regression lines from subjects of different age groups disclosed a significantly greater slope in the regression line of persons older than 50 years than in those of the younger population (p < 0.05). The increase with age of calcium content displayed no significant differences between male and female nor between any of the three aortic cusps. The presence of Lambl's excrescences on the aortic leaflets became more frequent with age and was associated with a higher calcium content.