Abstract

 

Aim: Although previous studies have shown a significant association between coronary risk factors or carotid atherosclerosis and valvular calcifications, there is conflicting evidence about which clinical cardiovascular risk factors are related to valvular calcifications.We aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima media thicknesses in patients with single and double valve calcifications in whom echocardiography has been performed prior to elective coronary angiography.

Materials and Methods: 100 patients having double valve calcifications (aortic valve calcification and mitral annular calcification; 47 female and 53 male; mean age 68.1±8.7 years) and 90 patients having single valve calcification (aortic valve calcification; 29 female and 61 male; mean age 62.8±9.8 years) were enrolled into the study. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography, carotis ultrasonography and coronary angiography.

Results: Age, female gender and hypertension were found to be significantly higher in patients with double valve calcifications (p=0.0001, 0.038 and 0.027; respectively). In means of hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, coronary artery disease and carotis intima media thickness, no significant difference was observed between the both groups. Age and female gender were found to be independent predictors in patients with double valve calcifications.

Conclusion: These data have suggested that aortic and mitral valve calcifications may have different pathogenetic mechanisms and mitral annular calcification may also have some additional pathogenetic factors.

Key Words: Aortic Valve Calcification; Mitral Annular Calcification; Carotis Intima Media Thickness; Cardiovascular Risk Factors.