Metadata language
Title:
Author:
Subject:
aortic stenosis ; atorvastatin ; osteoprotegerin
Abstract:
Nowadays, aortic stenosis is the most frequent valvular failure in Europe and in the United States. The aim of the research was to estimate plasma level of osteoprotegerin, osteopontin as well as soluble ligand of receptor activator of nuclear factor kB – sRANKL in patients with small degenerative changes of aortic valve – aortic sclerosis or aortic stenosis of a low degree. Moreover, the level of inflammatory markers: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemotactic protein – 1 (MCP-1) were measured. Finally, 33 patients were included to the experiment (18 men and 15 women, mean age: 70±8). Plasma levels of OPG, OPN and sRANKL were measured. Inflammatory markers: hsCRP, IL-6 and MCP-1. After blood taking, echocardiography was performed in all examined patients. Atorvastatin in a dose of 20 mg were given to patients for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of therapy, blood samples were taken once again from the patients and the same markers were measured. The plasma level of 3 calcification markers (OPG, sRANKL, OPN) were decreased after atorvastatin, however, OPN reduction did not reach statistical significance. The estimation of inflammatory markers revealed that all three (CRP, IL-6 and MCP-1) were significantly decreased after therapy. From the above results, the following conclusions were given: In patients with aortic sclerosis or small aortic stenosis ; 20 mg of atorvastatin: 1. reduces levels of calcification and inflammation biomarkers 2. this reduction is comparable between patients with and without hypercholesterolemia 3. the presence of atherosclerotic plaque/plaques in carotid artery does not influence assessed biomarkers