Early aortic valve inflammation precedes calcification: A longitudinal FDG-PET/CT study

- We aimed to study whether aortic valve inflammation is associated with subsequent aortic valve calcification.
- We identified individuals who underwent serial PET-CT studies at least 1 year apart for clinical indications.
- FDG-PET was used to measure baseline aortic valve inflammation.
- Serial CT was used to measure aortic valve calcification over time.
- Individuals with higher valvular FDG uptake at baseline manifested greater subsequent calcification based on serial CT imaging.

Objectives: Recent data shows a relationship between aortic valve (AV) inflammation and calcification. However, direct evidence linking early valve inflammation (prior to hemodynamic compromise) to subsequent calcium (Ca) deposition is lacking in humans. We sought to test the hypothesis whether local AV inflammation predisposes to subsequent AV Ca deposition. Methods: We identified 111 individuals (age 60[49, 68], 50.5% male) without active cancer or aortic stenosis who underwent 2 PET/CT studies 1-5 years apart for cancer surveillance. AV inflammation was determined by measuring FDG uptake (maximum standardized uptake value, SUVmax) within the AV on baseline PET/CT. Subsequent deposition of AV Ca was determined by comparing baseline and follow-up CT scans, determined as an increase in AV Ca volume score (CaVS). Patients were classified as “non-progressors” or “progressors” based on Square Root difference in CaVS (using a pre-determined cut-off value of 2.5). CT and PET measurements were conducted by 2 mutually blinded laboratories. Results: During follow-up, AV Ca increased in 23 patients (20.2%) classified as “progressors”, of whom 9 (9.2%) demonstrated subsequent 'incident' AV Ca. The AV SUVmax (mean ± SD) was higher in progressors vs. non-progressors (2.03 ± 0.52 vs.1.74 ± 0.36, p = 0.02) and especially in patients with-vs. without-incident AV Ca (2.28 ± 0.42 vs. 1.73 ± 0.36, p < 0.001). Moreover, AV inflammation (AV SUVmax) independently predicted subsequent calcification after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors [OR (95%CI): 4.99 (1.30-19.15), p = 0.02]. Conclusion: The findings suggest that early AV inflammation may predispose to AV sclerosis. The evaluation of valvular metabolic activity may prove useful for developing a better understanding of calcific valve disease.