Platelet-derived chemokines, PF-4 and RANTES, are significantly increased in hemodynamically significant degenerative aortic stenosis

Aortic valve stenosis (AoS) is the most common acquired valvular disorder found in developed countries, being present in 2% to 7% of adults over the age of 65 [1], [2] and [3]. Calcified AoS is a chronic progressive disease. The pathomechanisms leading to valve degeneration remain unknown. Valve disease shares many features with atherosclerosis. Platelet activation is an important constituent of the atherosclerotic process [4] and [5]. The study focused on two platelet-derived chemokines, which bridge three important components of atherogenesis: platelet activation, inflammation, and generation of atheroma. The study group was comprised of 124 consecutive patients being considered for aortic valve replacement for symptomatic degenerative trileaflet valvular AoS, and were undergoing cardiac catheterization in the Cardiocentre (Table 1) [6]. The exclusion criterion was the presence of an additional hemodynamically significant valve disease