Insights into the Development and Pathology of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease

Lipoprotein(a) has been implicated in this untreatable disease; researchers now connect Lp(a) to valve mineralization and autotaxin activity.

Studies have suggested that lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is associated with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Lp(a) transports oxidized phospholipids with high content of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), which is transformed into lysophosphatidic acid by autotaxin (ATX), a lysophospholipase D enzyme. Canadian investigators conducted a series of experiments to learn more about the development of CAVD.

ATX activity was measured in mineralized aortic valves from 35 patients with CAVD and nonmineralized aortic valves from 12 control patients undergoing heart transplantation. Enzyme-specific ATX activity was 60% higher in mineralized aortic valves than in nonmineralized control valves. In a subanalysis controlling for group age and sex differences, A…

Reviewing Author

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Insights into the Development and Pathology of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease

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Reviewing Author