Does lowering cholesterol have an impact on the progression of aortic stenosis?

Overview

Several studies suggest that atherosclerotic disease is not a focal disease restricted to culprit lesions in the intima of the arterial wall, but seems to act as a general disease affecting the entire cardiovascular system. Evolving research has lately focused on the atherosclerotic component in calcific aortic stenosis (AS) as it seems that the valve is affected in a pattern similar to that of the vasculature. The hope is therefore, that we someday in the management of patients with calcific AS can apply some of the same treatment strategies as in atherosclerotic vascular disease. This article reviews the pathophysiological mechanisms of calcific AS, reviews current clinical trials of statin use in aortic stenosis and reports on on-going trials, evaluating whether cholesterol lowering therapy can slow disease progression in different populations. Finally, we review if computerized tomography, biomarkers, and clinical characteristics such as left ventricular ejection fraction, can be useful in stratifying patients to potential benefit of statin therapy.