Association between carotid intima-media thickness and aortic valve stenosis

• Grant number: 11/22389-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Meliza Goi Roscani
• Grantee: Thaysa Rodrigues de Morais Salgueiro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chronic aortic valve stenosis is quite prevalent in the world and the degenerative form has become the most common etiology in Brazil and an important cause of surgery for valve replacement, morbidity, and death. Recent data point out that in 30% of cases, degenerative aortic valve stenosis is associated with coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis also performs an important role in the progression of aortic valve stenosis. Nevertheless, there are few studies that associate peripheral atherosclerosis and aortic valve stenosis. The proposal of this study is to conduct a transversal prospective study including consecutive patients referred from outpatient cardiology with aortic valve stenosis. Patients will be submitted to clinical evaluation, transthoracic echocardiography, and carotid ultrasonography. It will be identified which variables are associated with the presence of intima-media thickness. Also, we will assess the association between peripheral atherosclerosis and severity of stenosis (ventricular systolic dysfunction assessed by echocardiography, the occurrence of syncope, angina or dyspnea, valve area less than 1,5cm2, and medium systolic gradient greater than 30mmHg). (AU)