Raman microspectroscopy of human aortic valves : investigation of the local and global biochemical changes associated with calcification in aortic stenosis
Raman microspectroscopy of human aortic valves : investigation of the local and global biochemical changes associated with calcification in aortic stenosis
Raman microspectroscopy of human aortic valves : investigation of the local and global biochemical changes associated with calcification in aortic stenosis
Raman microimaging was applied to study the biochemical composition in the aortic valves obtained
from patients with calci
fi
c aortic stenosis. This progressive disease a
ff
ects an increasing number of elderly
patients with hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. Lipid accumulation in the tissue is associated with
pathogenesis and progression of cardiac valve calci
fi
cation. This is in line with our
fi
nding that lipid depo-
sits, predominantly composed of cholesterol and its esters, are frequently co-localized with calcium salt
deposits, even at an early stage of their development. Overall changes in the biochemical composition of
the tissue upon pathology progression are less obvious. Globally, although the cholesterol level rises, the
relative lipid-to-protein content decreases. The results broaden the knowledge of biochemical alterations
in dysfunctional human aortic valves and may be helpful in designing lipid lowering therapies.
affiliation:
Wydział Chemii : Zakład Fizyki Chemicznej, Wydział Lekarski : Instytut Kardiologii