Experimental study
Experimental aortic valve stenosis in rabbits

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Abstract

Objectives

We studied a known rabbit model of atherosclerosis to assess the effect of a hypercholesterolemic diet on aortic valve morphology and function. We also evaluated the effects of the combination of this diet with vitamin D supplements on the development of the disease and the occurrence of valve calcification.

Background

Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is the most common valvular heart disease. Recent observations have suggested a link between atherosclerosis and the development of AVS. However, until now, there has been no solid direct proof of this potential link.

Methods

Rabbits were divided in three groups: 1) no treatment; 2) cholesterol-enriched diet (0.5% cholesterol); and 3) cholesterol-enriched diet plus vitamin D2(50,000 IU/day). Echocardiographic assessment of the aortic valve was done at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. The aortic valve area (AVA) and maximal and mean transvalvular gradients were recorded and compared over time.

Results

Control animals displayed no abnormalities of the aortic valve. Despite important increases in blood total cholesterol levels, animals in group 2 did not develop any significant functional aortic valve abnormality over 12 weeks. However, eight of 10 of the animals in group 3 developed a significant decrease in AVA (p = 0.004) and significant increases in transvalvular gradients (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

This study supports a potential link between atherosclerosis and the development of AVS. The differences noted between hypercholesterolemic animals with or without vitamin D2supplementation imply a significant role of calcium in the development of AVS, meriting further attention.

Abbreviations

AVA
aortic valve area
AVS
aortic valve stenosis

Cited by (0)

This work was supported by grants from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (Quebec) and the Institut de Cardiologie de Québec, to Drs. Arsenault and Couet. Dr. Arsenault is a scholar from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec. Dr. Couet is a scholar from the Medical Research Council of Canada and the Cancer Research Society, Inc.