Relationship between aortic valve sclerosis and different vascular damage markers: an observational study

Objective: Although aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) and atherosclerosis may share same atherosclerotic process, there is still a controversy whether AVS may be related to atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic processes. The purpose of present study was to investigate this relation. Methods: In this cross-sectional and observational study, we enrolled 60 patients diagnosed with AVS and risk factor matched 76 subjects without AVS. Applanation tonometry was applied to assess the augmentation index and aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV). Control and AVS group were examined by B-mode ultrasound to measure the intima-media thickness (IMT). Continuous variables were compared using unpaired t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regression analysis was performed in order to find independent predictors of AVS. Results: PWV and augmentation index did not differ between control and AVS groups (11.2±3.6 vs 12±3.2, p=0.18 and 26±7.6 vs 27±9.8, p=0.2 respectively). But IMT was significantly higher in AVS group than in control one (0.76 mm±0.17 vs 0.6 mm±0.16; p<0.001). There was a significant positive bivariate correlation between the presence of AVS, IMT (r=0.43, p<0.001), male gender(r=0.31, p<0.001), augmentation index (r=0.17, p: 0,04), and age (r=0.36, p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that only IMT (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.1-1.9, p=0.009) and age (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.01-1.16, p=0.013) were independent predictors of AVS. Conclusion: Increased IMT but not PWV in subjects with AVS compared to control group may suggest that, AVS is probably a multifactorial disease, related to the both atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic processes.