Novel Inflammatory Indices in Aortic Disease

Inflammation plays a critical role in the atherosclerotic process in various vascular beds, starting from endothelial dysfunction and counting all stages of plaque development. The significant contribution of inflammation in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis has been documented over many years but its contribution to the development of other cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Inflammatory process constitutes a basic part of pathogenic cascade of aortic diseases including those of aortic valve stenosis and aortic aneurysms. Thus, both of these entities are related with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the need to detect and investigate indices representative of inflammation that will be easily measured and may reflect the process of these diseases, is mandatory. However, such biomarkers for aortic diseases that could have a significant prognostic value on survival via the early identification of high risk patients, in general, remain few. Therefore, the illumination of role of such biomarkers, will facilitate the understanding of the mechanisms in molecular and/or cellular level that are responsible for the creation of aortic disease. Such an approach may provide a pathophysiological basis for early diagnosis.