Calcific aortic stenosis: new pathophysiologic insights and possible new medical therapy.

Aortic stenosis is a progressive disease of aging with serious complications. A common disease of the elderly, it may inexorably progress to stenosis. Recent retrospective studies have correlated risk factors commonly associated with coronary and vascular atherosclerosis with an accelerated rate of aortic valve stenosis. Although hydroxymethyl glutaryl co-enzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin) treatment therapy has been shown to delay the rate of progression of valvular aortic stenosis, the salutary mechanism of the statin may be cholesterol-lowering and/or anti-inflammatory. Further prospective studies are warranted to investigate the mechanism and medical therapy of aortic sclerosis and stenosis.