Correlation between aortic valve calcification and C-reactive protein levels in patients with aortic valve sclerosis

Background and Aims: Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is presently the most common cause of aortic valve stenosis (AVS) resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate and associate the effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on AVC progress for individuals with aortic valve sclerosis (AVSc). Methods: We present the preliminary results of a prospective study of 65 patients with AVSc, who underwent non-contrast ECG-guided multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) for quantification of calcium score by Agatston units (AU) and blood sampling for biochemical analysis. Primary endpoints were the quantification of (1) AVC score; and (2) blood CRP levels. The study took place between 4 tertiary hospitals in Greece. results: The median age of all participants was 75.3 years old (IR=7.4) with median blood CRP levels being 0.7mg/dl (IR 1.1). The median AVC score was 673.5 AU (IR=878.2). According to the results of a bivariate analysis, a statistically significant correlation between AVC score with CRP was noted. Increased CRP levels were related to increased AVC scores (p=0.028). Conclusions: A significant relationship between elevated blood CRP levels and increased calcium score in the aortic valve in individuals with AVSc was confirmed. The above results serve as a standpoint for further research to clarify the exact underlying pathophysiology mechanisms, as inflammation could possibly contribute to the accelerated progression of cardiac valve calcification.