Aortic calcification: A sign of early heart disease?

Until recently, aortic calcification was thought to be a relatively harmless condition. But research published in 2007 indicates that aortic calcification may be an early sign that you already have heart disease, even if you don't have any heart disease symptoms.

Aortic calcification, also called aortic sclerosis, is a buildup of calcium deposits on the aortic valve in the heart. This often results in a heart murmur, which can easily be heard with a stethoscope over the heart. However, aortic calcification usually doesn't significantly affect the function of the aortic valve.

In some cases, though, the calcium deposits thicken and cause narrowing at the opening of the aortic valve. This impairs blood flow through the valve, causing chest pain or a heart attack. Doctors refer to such narrowing as aortic stenosis.

Aortic calcification typically affects older adults. But when it occurs in younger adults, it's often associated with an aortic valve defect that is present at birth (congenital) or with other illnesses such as kidney failure. An ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) can determine the severity of aortic calcification and also check for other possible causes of a heart murmur.

There's no specific treatment for aortic calcification, but it does require monitoring for further developments of heart disease. It's important to have your cholesterol checked, because you may need medications to lower cholesterol and help prevent progression of aortic calcification. If the valve becomes severely narrowed, aortic valve replacement surgery may be necessary.