Modern aspects of pathogenesis of calcification of the aortic valve

Abstract

Aortic valve calcification with accompanying stenosis is the predominant reason for cardiac valve replacement. Lack of medical treatments, together with a high frequency of occurrence of calcific aortic stenosis represent one of the main problems in cardiological practice. New observations in human aortic valves support the hypothesis that calcific valvular aortic stenosis is the result of active bone formation in the aortic valve, which may be mediated through a process of osteoblast-like differentiation in these tissues. Although there are similarities with the risk factor as well as with the process of atherogenesis, not all the patients with coronary artery disease or pathogenesis exhibit aortic valve stenosis. Modern pathogenesis of the calcific aortic stenosis is presented in the article which also provides its comparative characteristics with atherosclerosis. Refs 51. Figs 3. Table 1.