Skip to main content
Download PDF

Volume 8 Supplement 1

23rd World Congress of the World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons: Abstracts

Investigating the mechanism of aortic valve stenosis: the role of magnesium salts

Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery volume 8, Article number: O18 (2013) Cite this article

Background

The calcification ofaortic valves is a common diseaseand valve replacement is the only established treatment. Herewith, we use infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopyto investigate and characterize the mineral deposits in order to understand the mechanism of aortic valve calcification and stenosis.

Methods

30 aortic valves of patients (65-80 years), who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement due to aortic stenosis, were used. The ATR-FT-IR spectra were recorded with a Nicolet 6700 thermoscientific spectrometer. SEM-EDX and XRD were from Fei Co, the Netherlands and Simens D-500 X-Ray diffractometer, respectively.

Results

The changes of FT-IR spectraat 1743 cm-1resulted from hyperoxidation of lipids due to oxidative stress. The characteristic bands at the spectral regions 1200-900 cm-1 and 700-400 cm-1showed the formation of low crystallinity biological hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) and calcium monophosphate (CaHPO4) salts. The results were confirmed using SEM-ΕDAX and XRD analysis. The observed cross-linking bonds between collagen and elastin were the principal sites for calcium deposition and progression. The findings confirmed the hypothesis that hydroxyapatite is formed predominantly due to ATP cycle, where the release of phosphate anions take place in ischemic pathways.

Conclusions

The characteristic FT-IR absorption bands of calcified aortic valves showed hyperoxidation of membranes (a pro-inflammation stage), while the mineral deposits were consistent of low crystallinity biological hydroxyapatite, Ca2HPO4 and calcium phosphates. SEM-EDAX data showed substitution of calcium cations from magnesium cations leading to amorphous salts, preventing thus the aortic valve stenosis. Treatment of these patients with magnesium salts maybe could reduce the progress of aortic valve stenosis after valve replacement.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Radiation Chemistry & Biospectroscopy, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

    V Dritsa, K Pissaridi & J Anastassopoulou

  2. Department of Cardiology, NIMTS Veteran Hospital of Athens, Greece

    E Koutoulakis

  3. Department of Cardiology, 401 Army General Hospital of Athens, Greece

    I Mamarelis

  4. Department of Cardiac Surgery, «Iaso» General Hospital of Athens, Greece

    Chr Kotoulas

Authors
  1. V Dritsa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K Pissaridi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J Anastassopoulou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E Koutoulakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. I Mamarelis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Chr Kotoulas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chr Kotoulas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dritsa, V., Pissaridi, K., Anastassopoulou, J. et al. Investigating the mechanism of aortic valve stenosis: the role of magnesium salts. J Cardiothorac Surg 8, O18 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8090-8-S1-O18

Download citation

Keywords

  • Aortic Valve
  • Valve Replacement
  • Aortic Stenosis
  • Calcium Phosphate
  • Aortic Valve Replacement

Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery

ISSN: 1749-8090

Contact us