According to reports, aortic stenosis ^[1] is relatively common problem effecting 2% of people over the age of 65, 3% of people over the age of 75, and 4% of people over the age of 85. One of the major causes of stenosis is the calcification of the aortic heart valve. This is especially likely to occur in people with a bicuspid aortic valve, but also occurs as a result of age-induced ‘wear and tear’.

Typically, aortic stenosis due to calcification of a bicuspid valve ^[2] occurs in the fourth or fifth decade of life. Whereas, aortic stenosis — due to calcification — of a normal valve tends to occur in the seventh or eighth decade of life.

Of the various forms of aortic stenosis, the calcific type is predominant. Since calcific aortic stenosis shares many pathological features and risk factors with atherosclerosis, and since atherosclerosis may be prevented and/or reversed by cholesterol lowering, there has been interest in attempting to modify the course of calcific aortic stenosis by cholesterol lowering with statin drugs.

Although a number of small, observational studies demonstrated an association between lowered cholesterol and decreased progression, and even regression, of calcific aortic stenosis, a recent, large randomized clinical trial, published in 2005, failed to find any predictable effect of cholesterol lowering on calcific aortic stenosis. However, a 2007 study did demonstrate a slowing of aortic stenosis with the statin… rosuvastatin ^[3].

So you know, I suffered from calcified aortic valve stenosis as indicated above. When I reached the age of 33, my bicuspid aortic valve had become severely stenotic. While I was mostly asymptomatic ^[4], blood flow through my aortic valve was hindered and my heart had already begun to enlarge (dilate) ^[5].

Luckily, I caught this severe heart valve disease just before permanent damage was done to my cardiac muscle. I’ll never forget what Dr. Starnes ^[6] said to me after my aortic valve replacement. Doctor Starnes said, “Adam – We caught this just in time. The valve was very calcified, very white, very sick!”

I hope that helps explain more about the impact of calcium deposits building up on the aortic valve.

Keep on tickin!