Progression of aortic stenosis and associated heavy metal in blood

Aorticstenosis (AD) is the most common cardiopulmonary disease, and with the increasein elderly population, the frequency is increasing in developed countries.Degenerative / calcific aortic stenosis is a very common disease in developedsocieties, 21-26% in people over 65 years old and 48% in people over 85 yearsold. The rate of progression of aortic stenosis and the factors affecting itare known; it is important that the rate of progress can be slowed down bytreatment approaches for these factors, if there are controllable risk factorsthat affect the rate of progression, and which patients should be assessed on afrequent basis. We considered the effects of heavy metals on the aortic valveprogression, taking into consideration the increasing environmental pollutionconditions.METHODS:A total of 55 patients (33 patients with mild AD and 22 patients withmoderate AD) were included in the study, who had mild to moderate AD with acalcified aortic valve over 50 years of age who were diagnosed with aorticstenosis between 2011 and 2014. Patients' blood heavy metal levels andprogression status (mean 3-year follow-up) were studied.RESULTS:There were two groups of patients showing progressive andnon-progressive follow-up. Twenty-six patients in the progressive group and 29in the non-progressive group were identified. Baseline characteristics weresimilar between the two groups. A significant difference was found betweenzinc, chromium, magnesium and selenium in blood heavy metal levels (p&lt;0.001), there was no correlation with copper (p = 0,1) (figure 1).Progression in the group with mild aortic stenosis was seen more (19 vs 7).CONCLUSIONS:Some findings have been obtained in our study that may help tounderstand the relationship between serum trace element levels and calcific ADseverity and progression. Changes in the levels of tracer elements may causeoxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction leading to the development ofcalcific AD. Trace element levels may be indicative of rapid progression inpatients with calcific AD.</div

The relationship between serum trace elements and severity and progression of aortic stenosis

Introduction: Degenerative/calcific aortic stenosis is a very common disease in developed countries, affecting 21 - 26% of people over 65 years old and 48% of people over 85 years old. Progression rate is an important criteria in treatment of aortic stenosis (AS). However, which factors influence progression rate of AS is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of heavy metals on aortic valve progression. Materials and methods: A total of 55 patients (33 patients with mild AS and 22 patients with moderate AS) were included in the study, all had mild to moderate AS with a calcified aortic valve, were over 50 years of age, and had been diagnosed with aortic stenosis between 2011 and 2016. The mean of the annual velocity increase of all patients was calculated (0.17 m/s), and the patients with an increase below the mean were placed into group 1 (n = 29), and patients with a velocity change above the mean into group 2 (n = 26). Patients' blood heavy-metal levels and progression status (mean 3-year follow-up) were studied. Results: There were two groups of patients showing progressive and nonprogressive follow-up; 26 patients in the progressive group and 29 in the nonprogressive group were identified. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. A significant difference was found between zinc, chromium, magnesium, and selenium in blood heavy-metal levels (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Changes in the levels of trace elements may cause oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction leading to the development of calcific AS. Trace element levels may be indicative of rapid progression in patients with calcific AS

Neither oxidized nor anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein level is associated with atherosclerosis or mortality in hemodialysis patients

It is anticipated that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and anti-oxLDL are associated with atherosclerosis and mortality. However, data on this issue are controversial and limited. We aimed to investigate the effect of these two markers on the extent and progression of atherosclerosis and mortality in a group of hemodialysis patients. In this prospective observational study with a follow-up of 36 months, 124 hemodialysis patients were studied. Ninety-five patients underwent carotid intima media thickness (CA-IMT) measurement by B-Mode ultrasonography both at baseline and at the end of the study. oxLDL and anti-oxLDL were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The extent and progression of CA-IMT, along with overall and cardiovascular mortality, were assessed. The mean age at baseline was 54.0 +/- 14.8 years, 57.3% male and 20% diabetic. The mean oxLDL and anti-oxLDL levels were 8.11 +/- 3.16?mU/L and 1.30 +/- 0.31, respectively. Baseline mean CA-IMT was 0.82 +/- 0.20?mm. Fifteen patients died during a follow-up period of 28.5 +/- 6.6 months, 11 from cardiovascular causes. Only oxLDL, not anti-oxLDL, was correlated with the extent of atherosclerosis at baseline. However, both had no role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Also, in unadjusted and adjusted models, both parameters were not associated with overall or cardiovascular mortality. Neither oxLDL nor anti-oxLDL level is associated with the progression of atherosclerosis or mortality in hemodialysis patients

An investigation of the relationship between arterial aortic stiffness and coronary slow flow that was detected during coronary angiography

Aim Increased intimal thickness in coronary arteries, extensive calcification, and atheromatous plaque that does not cause luminal irregularities in a significant portion of the patients with coronary slow flow (CSF). Arterial stiffness is an indicator for atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the relation between coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) and arterial stiffness