Sex differences in aortic valve calcification measured by multidetector computed tomography in aortic stenosis.
Circ Cardiovasc Imaging
; 6(1): 40-7, 2013 Jan 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23233744
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is the intrinsic mechanism of valvular obstruction leading to aortic stenosis (AS) and is measurable by multidetector computed tomography. The link between sex and AS is controversial and that with AVC is unknown. METHODS ANDRESULTS:
We prospectively performed multidetector computed tomography in 665 patients with AS (aortic valve area, 1.05±0.35 cm(2); mean gradient, 39±19 mm Hg) to measure AVC and to assess the impact of sex on the AVC-AS severity link in men and women. AS severity was comparable between women and men (peak aortic jet velocity 4.05±0.99 versus 3.93±0.91 m/s, P=0.11; aortic valve area index 0.55±0.20 versus 0.56±0.18 cm(2)/m(2); P=0.46). Conversely, AVC load was lower in women versus men (1703±1321 versus 2694±1628 arbitrary units; P<0.0001) even after adjustment for their smaller body surface area or aortic annular area (both P<0.0001). Thus, odds of high-AVC load were much greater in men than in women (odds ratio, 5.07; P<0.0001). Although AVC showed good associations with hemodynamic AS severity in men and women (all r>0.67; P<0.0001), for any level of AS severity measured by peak aortic jet velocity or aortic valve area index, AVC load, absolute or indexed, was higher in men versus women (all P≤0.01).CONCLUSIONS:
In this large AS population, women incurred similar AS severity than men for lower AVC loads, even after indexing for their smaller body size. Hence, the relationship between valvular calcification process and AS severity differs in women and men, warranting further pathophysiological inquiry. For AS severity diagnostic purposes, interpretation of AVC load should be different in men and in women.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Aortic Valve
/
Aortic Valve Stenosis
/
Calcinosis
/
Multidetector Computed Tomography
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Circ Cardiovasc Imaging
Journal subject:
ANGIOLOGIA
/
CARDIOLOGIA
/
DIAGNOSTICO POR IMAGEM
Year:
2013
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States