Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging
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Circ Cardiovasc Imaging · Jan 2013
Multicenter Study Comparative StudySex differences in aortic valve calcification measured by multidetector computed tomography in aortic stenosis.
Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is the intrinsic mechanism of valvular obstruction leading to aortic stenosis (AS) and is measurable by multidetector computed tomography. The link between sex and AS is controversial and that with AVC is unknown. ⋯ In this large AS population, women incurred similar AS severity than men for lower AVC loads, even after indexing for their smaller body size. Hence, the relationship between valvular calcification process and AS severity differs in women and men, warranting further pathophysiological inquiry. For AS severity diagnostic purposes, interpretation of AVC load should be different in men and in women.