Aortic Valve Sclerosis

Posted by williaml1 @williaml1, Jan 9 11:13pm

I was recently diagnosed with this, although the thoracic ultrasound shows I am not in serious trouble yet. "The qualitative LV ejection fraction is 60-64% (normal). The left ventricular cavity size is normal. The LV wall thickness is normal." The Mayo reference says 50-70% is normal. However, "There is aortic valve sclerosis without stenosis. Mild aortic valve regurgitation is present."

I wondered what I did, or what happened to me, to cause this and also what I need to do to keep it from progressing to stenosis. I am a nonsmoker and my cholesterol is under control with statins. Fish oil (2700 mg of Omega 3 daily) does a good job of suppressing my triglycerides.

However, I had Covid-19 in 2024 (the vaccine mitigates it but doesn't stop it) and I was also taking calcium supplements due to reduced dairy intake. Cleveland Clinic found an association between calcium supplements and heart valve calcification. "Calcium supplementation with or without vitamin D is associated with lower long-term survival and higher rates of aortic valve replacement (AVR)." My doctor, in whom I have a lot of confidence, said however it could just be age-related.

I took the following actions, of which I informed my doctor.
(1) Discontinued calcium supplements and added dairy (nonfat) sources instead.
(2) I am already taking glutathione precursors (SAM-E, MSM, N-AcetylCysteine) and Google AI says, based on articles including one at the NIH, "Glutathione (GSH) plays a key role as an antioxidant that may help inhibit heart valve and vascular calcification. "
(3) I resumed taking a Vitamin K-2 supplement, which I had stopped because I eat a lot of Brussels sprouts--except they contain K1 and not K2. It is supposed to work with Vitamin D, as I understand, to get calcium into bones rather than blood vessels.

I also saw that The American Heart Association Journal has a page entitled "Magnesium Counteracts Vascular Calcification." I am increasing my intake. My understanding is that magnesium oxide is not absorbed very well so I got magnesium glycinate. NIH has a page whose information says "Hesperetin, a promising dietary supplement for preventing the development of calcific aortic valve disease."

I am interested in what other people are doing about the same issue. In addition, I read that a new technology is available (Valvosoft from Cardiawave in France) and has gotten Europe's CE mark, although it is not yet available in the US. It is a noninvasive procedure that uses directed ultrasound to decalcify heart valves. From their web site, "Aortic valve leaflets tissues are softened, restoring their mobility and improving the anatomical and hemodynamical parameters following the procedure." This could be several years away, but it is worth watching.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

marty06 | @marty06 | Jan 10 12:04am

I just learned today that I have severe aortic stenosis and will have to have surgery. I read what you did about the calcium and Vitamin D and asked my cardiologist about it. He said he was "okay with me taking it for my bones". But I'm going to ask the surgeon when they contact me for the cath and testing before surgery what he thinks. Mine will be done at Duke Hospital in Durham, NC. I read taht mortality is between 1-3 years without repair. I was at the ER twice last August with irregular heartbeats and released both times because I wasn't having a heart attack. I didn't expect this when I had the echocardiogram yesterday for sure.

williaml1 | @williaml1 | Jan 10 1:10am

Good luck with the procedure, and definitely ask the surgeon's opinion. As far as I know, Cleveland Clinic is the only source of this information but they cite actual studies and they have an excellent reputation.

My doctor fortunately sent me for an echocardiogram based on merely slightly irregular heartbeats. Based on your experience, I am lucky that she is as diligent as she is. Otherwise I would have never known about the sclerosis.

Are you getting a pig/cow valve or a synthetic one? I read that the ones from animals eventually need replacement, but you need blood thinners with the synthetic ones (and they also make noise). I just finished a materials chemistry book that explains how the synthetic ones can create blood clots (in the absence of thinners).

marty06 | @marty06 | 6 days ago

The surgeon's office didn't phone yesterday to make the appointment. I'll be suer to ask which is better. My mother died from heart issues at age 34 after having Rheumatic Fever from a strep throat. It damaged her heart and she was an invalid almost all my life. I was 9 when she died, and she had been sick for 5 years. I have secondary polycythemia, which is high hemogloblin, red blood cells, etc. and that makes my blood thicker anyway. But it isn't to the degree that I have to have blood draws every few weeks. I manage by drinking a lot of fluid so far. I only have one arm to use for IV's after having cancer due to 21 lymph nodes being removed on one side under my arm, and only 9 on the other side. But I plan to get through this. I just started a Youtube channel called Marty's Musings and I wanted to get it going. I've only got 3 videos up so far. Bad timing, huh?

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