Medpedia

Statin treatment in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis is associated with significantly lower ascending aortic size, according to a study published in the Nov. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology. Sachin S. Goel, M.D., from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and colleagues investigated the role of statins in slowing ascending aortic dilation in patients with BAV. Data on statin use were collected from 147 patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography before aortic valve, with or without ascending aorta replacement surgery for bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS) between 2004 and 2007. Of these patients, 76 were taking statins and 71 were not. Ascending aorta size, measured by preoperative transesophageal echocardiogram, was compared between patients taking and not taking statins.