Atherosclerosis, degenerative aortic stenosis and statins.

Abstract

Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease among adult subjects in western countries The current treatment for aortic stenosis is aortic valve replacement. The possibility of a medical treatment that can slow the progression of aortic stenosis is very fascinating and statins have been tested to reduce the progression of degenerative aortic stenosis (DAS). The rationale for statin treatment in DAS has a deep pathophysiological substrate, in fact inflammation and lipid infiltration constitute the same histopathological pattern of both aortic stenosis and atherosclerosis and these two conditions have the same risk factors. Whether retrospective studies have shown some efficacy of statins in halting the progression of DAS, prospective trials have shown controversial results. A recently published large and randomized controlled trial SEAS found that statins have no significant effect on the progression of aortic stenosis, the ASTRONOMER, recently confirmed this data. The most plausible hypothesis is that coronary artery disease and DAS, have a common pathogenetic background and a distinct evolution due to different factors (mechanical stress, genetic factors, interaction between inflammatory cells and calcification mediators). Thus, treatment with statins is not recommended in patients with valvular aortic stenosis and without conventional indications to lipid-lowering treatment.

• Authors: Giuseppina Novo, Giovanni Fazio, Claudia Visconti, Patrizia Carità, Ermanno Maira, Khalil Fattouch, Salvatore Novo
• Journal: Current drug targets (Curr Drug Targets) Vol. 12 Issue 1 Pg. 115-21 (Jan 2011) ISSN: 1873-5592 [Electronic] United Arab Emirates
• PMID: 20863278 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

Topics

• Animals
• Aortic Valve Stenosis (drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Atherosclerosis (drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (pharmacology, therapeutic use)