Aortic valve stenosis and cancer: a common and complex association

Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2021 Mar 10. doi: 10.1080/14779072.2021.1902306. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: The prevalence of aortic valve stenosis (AS) and malignancy are both high, especially in elderly people and in developed countries. These two conditions frequently coexist and share the same risk factors, as atherosclerotic disease.AREA COVERED: The progression of calcified AS may be accelerated by both cardiovascular risk factors and cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy. The standard treatment for symptomatic severe AS is surgical aortic valve replacement, however in cancer patients transcatheter implantation may be preferred as they are often at high-risk for cardiac surgery. In patients with AS and cancer, physicians may face difficult treatment decisions.To date, there is limited information on the impact of malignancy on outcomes in patients with severe AS; hence, there is no established treatment policy.EXPERT OPINION: Treating clinicians must integrate complex information about the severity of valve disease and expected cardiac outcomes with information regarding the cancer prognosis and need for specific treatment, including surgery. Other comorbidities, age and frailty also contribute to decision making about whether, when, and how to perform aortic valve replacement.PMID:33688784 | DOI:10.1080/14779072.2021.1902306

Source: Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy - March 10, 2021 Category: Cardiology Authors: Silvia Frattini Giovanni Troise Carlo Fucci Gregg S Pressman Pompilio Faggiano Source Type: research