Left Ventricular Fibrosis in Patients with Aortic Stenosis

Aortic valve stenosis is the commonest form of valvular heart disease in the Western world, currently affecting about 7% of the population over the age of 60, while 3% of people over the age of 75 have severe stenosis. With an aging population, its prevalence is expected to increase dramatically in the next few decades with major financial implications for global healthcare systems. Aortic stenosis is characterized by progressive valve narrowing that leads to a high-pressure load on the left ventricle (LV), triggering hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes, and increase in LV wall thickness and mass.