Serum rantes, transforming growth factor-β1 and interleukin-6 fibrosis in patients with aortic valve stenosis
INTRODUCTION Progressive aortic valve degeneration leads to severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) in approximately 2 – 7% of the population over 65 years of age . The mechanisms of aortic valve degeneration are multifactorial and not fully understood. Population-based studies showed a correlation between age and the prevalence of calcific AS . Once calcifications appear, pro-calcific and pro-fibrotic mechanisms are more active, leading to progressive valve degeneration . Some postulated factors driving AS progession include influence of classic atherosclerotic risk factors. In AS, not only the aortic valve is affected. In fact, stenosis leads to extravalvular cardiac complications such as left ventricular (LV) remodeling, LV diastolic dysfunction, mitral valve regurgitation, left atrium damage, pulmonary circulation overload, and right ventricular dysfunction.