Relationship between aortic valve sclerosis and the extent of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography.

BACKGROUND Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) is considered to be a manifestation of coronary atherosclerosis. Recent studies demonstrated an association between AVS and significant coronary artery disease (CAD). AIM We sought to determine the association between AVS and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis by means of the Gensini score system, which was calculated to yield a measure of the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in patients referred for coronary angiography. METHODS A total of 160 consecutive patients referred for coronary angiography were subjected to echocardiography for screening of AVS and coronary risk assessment. Absence (group 1, n = 110) and presence of AVS (Group 2, n = 50) was established. The cardiac risk factors considered in this study were age, gender, family history of CAD, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and history of smoking. The body mass index was also measured. Atherosclerotic plaque burden was determined using the Gensini score. Significant CAD was defined as >50% reduction in the internal diameter of at least one coronary artery. Multivessel coronary disease was based on the presence of 2- or 3-vessel disease. RESULTS The AVS patients had a higher rate of 3-vessel disease (AVS group vs. non AVS: 40 vs. 13.6%; p < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between AVS and 1- and 2-vessel disease. Individuals with AVS were found to have a higher Gensini score (40.7 +/- 38.05 vs. 18 +/- 16.4; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified age (p < 0.001), male sex (p = 0.01), triglycerides (p = 0.02), LDL cholesterol (p = 0.001) and Gensini score (p = 0.003) as independent predictors of AVS. CONCLUSION AVS is strongly interrelated with the coronary angiographic Gensini score. Echocardiographic detection of AVS in patients undergoing coronary angiography can provide a new surrogate marker of the extent of coronary atherosclerosis.