Nonobstructive aortic valve calcium as a window to atherosclerosis of the aorta

Aortic valve calcium without stenosis and mitral annulus calcium (MAC) ore known to correlate with atherosclerotic risk factors. Recently, it has been reported that MAC is associated with atherosclerosis of the cardiovascular system, suggesting MAC as on atherosclerotic process by itself. Hence, the aim of the present study was to determine whether a similar association be tween aortic valve calcium and aortic atheroma exists. Ninety-six patients (54 men and 42 women, mean age 72 +/- 12 years) with aortic valve calcium w ho underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) formed the study group. They were compared with 92 sex- and age-matched patients without aortic va lve calcium who underwent TEE for the same indications during the same peri od. The presence and echocardiographic features of aortic atheromas were ev aluated by TEE. No differences were found between the groups in risk factor s for atherosclerosis or in indications for referral for TEE. Significantly higher rates were found in the aortic valve calcium group for prevalence o f aortic atheroma (86% vs 30%, p = 0.001). This significant trend was also consistent with the dimension and complexity of the atheromas. On multivari ate analysis aortic valve calcium, and MAC were the only independent predic tors of aortic atheroma (p = 0.0001, 0.006 respectively). We conclude that there is a significant association between the presence of aortic valve cal cium and the presence and severity ol: aortic atheroma. Thus, aortic valve calcium may serve as a window to atherosclerosis of the aorta. (C) 2000 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.