ASSESSMENT OF AORTIC VALVE SCLEROSIS AS A MARKER OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND ITS RISK FACTORS

Introdution: Aortic valve sclerosis is defined as calcification of the aortic leaflets without impairment in leaflet excursion or antegrade velocity across the valve < 2.5 m/s. It is characterized by a gradual progression beginning with calcium deposition that may ultimately transform to aortic stenosis (AS) with obstruction of outflow from the left ventricle. Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) presence is associated with an increase in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity . Aims & Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between presence of AVS with occurrence of coronary artery disease and classical risk factors. Materials And Methods: The relationship among aortic sclerosis, the presence and acuity of CAD and cardiovascular outcomes in patients presenting with chest pain was studied by prospective follow-up of a cohort of patients from an observational cross-sectional study. A total of 275 Patients were enrolled for the study and all the patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and diagnostic coronary angiography to assess AVS and to evaluate the extent of coronary artery involvement respectively. Results: Elderly patients aged > 60 years with aortic valve sclerosis had higher prevalence of obstructive coronary artery disease with p value of <0.05 & AVS is considered as independent predictor of obstructive CAD. Conclusion: Our study concludes that AVS is strongly associated with the extent of coronary artery disease and that echocardiographic detection of AVS in patients undergoing coronary angiography may be considered as a new surrogate marker for the extent of coronary atherosclerosis and thereof CAD.