Circulating osteoprotegerin and Dickkopf-1 changed significantly after surgical aortic valve replacement but remained without any significant differences after transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Abstract
Non-rheumatic, calcified aortic valve stenosis (CAS) is the most frequent valvular heart disease in adults, and carries substantial morbidity and mortality. Thus, aortic valve replacement is the most commonly performed valve intervention in the adult population.
The main pathognomonic sign of valve degeneration (both - native and bioprosthesis) is progressive valve calcification. The presence of aortic valve calcium in patients with asymptomatic mild or moderate CAS has been recognized as the single most significant predictor of clinical progression.
The most intriguing observation of this study is that the dynamics of the circulating regulators of osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity, OPG and Dkk-1, differ significantly in relation to the mode of aortic valve repair. The substantial difference was observed in circulating regulators of osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity, i.e.
OPG and Dkk-1, in relation to the mode of valve repair in patients with CAS. New studies are needed to determine if these changes are associated with differential degeneration of aortic valve bioprostheses.