Amber R Howard Author

Short Communication Open Access

Association between iron deposition and neovascularization in patients with aortic valve stenosis

Author(s):

 Amber R Howard  

Introduction: Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) is characterized by calcification, restricted leaflet motion, and reduction in valve area. It has been shown that neovessels, intraleaflet hemorrhage, and iron deposition may be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. We sought to evaluate the association between aortic valve intraleaflet neovascularization and iron deposition in patients with AS using histologic techniques. Methods: Aortic valve leaflets of 10 consenting patients with AS were extracted during surgical aortic valve replacement, fixed, embedded and sectioned. Presence of microvessels, macrophages, and iron was assessed with standard immunohistochemical staining with CD34, CD68 and iron respectively. Histological analysis was performed using Leica software. For each stai... view more»

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