The Risk of the Development of Aortic Stenosis in Patients With "Benign" Aortic Valve Thickening

Abstract
AORTIC VALVE thickening (AVT) without aortic stenosis (AS) is a common echocardiographic finding. Its prevalence is 26% in adults older than 65 years1 and up to 40% in those older than 75 years.2 In an echocardiographic study of nonagenarians, only 10% had a normal aortic valve.3 The fact that the majority of elderly people do not have AVT implies that risk factors other than age play a role in its pathogenesis.