Fat cells and membranous fat necrosis of aortic valves: A clinicopathological study. (18th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matsukuma, Susumu; Takeo, Hiroaki; Kono, Takako; Sato, Kimiya
• Is Part Of: Pathology international. Volume 63:Number 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 345
• Page End: 352
• Publication Date: 2013-07-18
• Subjects: aortic valve -- fat -- fat necrosis -- heart -- membranous dystrophy -- membranous fat necrosis -- valvular dysfunction; Pathology -- Periodicals; 616.07
• DOI: 10.1111/pin.12074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1320-5463

Abstract

Abstract : We examined 152 aortic valves (AVs), which included 82 postmortem non‐dysfunctional AVs (nd‐AVs) and 70 surgically removed dysfunctional AVs showing aortic stenosis (AS), aortic regurgitation (AR), or combined AS and AR (AS‐R). Fat cells, membranous fat necrosis (MFN), and fat‐MFN‐related lesions composed of fat cells and/or MFN were found in 127 (83.6%), 110 (72.4%), and 140 (92.1%) of 152 AVs, respectively, and all were associated with older age ( P = 0.010, P = 0.022, and P = 0.003, respectively). MFN was associated with fibrous thickening and calcification (both, P = 0.001). Nd‐AV fat cells and fat‐MFN‐related lesions were not correlated with body mass index. Compared with age‐ and sex‐matched control cases, MFN in AS and AS‐R cases was more frequent ( P = 0.030 and P = 0.045, respectively), but MFN in AR cases showed no significant differences. Fat‐MFN‐related lesions, possibly representing true preceding fat cells, showed no differences in AVs with and without dysfunction or in dysfunctional types. These data suggest that AV fat cells are age‐related, obesity‐independent, and AV dysfunction‐unrelated common phenomenon. MFN is also age‐dependent and could be caused by AS and AS‐R, which is probably concerned with AV thickening and calcification.