Abstract
Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease. We have previously shown
that severe AS is associated with increased levels of circulating intermediate monocytes.
Haemodynamics are considered to influence levels of circulating monocyte subsets;
we therefore hypothesized that aortic valve replacement may result in changes in the
distribution of circulating monocyte subsets. In the present study, we evaluated levels
of circulating monocyte subsets in patients with severe AS undergoing surgical aortic
valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Levels
of classical (CD14++CD16–), intermediate (CD14++CD16+), and non-classical (CD14+CD16++) CD86-positive monocytes were determined by flow cytometry in peripheral blood of
patients with severe AS before (baseline) and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups (FUP) after
SAVR (n = 25 patients) or TAVR (n = 44 patients). Absolute and relative levels of circulating intermediate monocytes
decreased from median 39.9/µL (interquartile range [IQR]: 31.7–53.6/µL) and 6.7% (5.6–8.1%)
at baseline to 31.6/µL (24.3–42.4/µL; p < 0.001) and 5.4% (4.4–6.7%; p < 0.001) at 6-month FUP after aortic valve replacement, respectively. The decrease
in levels of circulating intermediate monocytes appeared earlier (between baseline
and 3-month FUP) in the TAVR group compared with the SAVR group (between 3- and 6-month
FUP). In conclusion, levels of circulating intermediate monocytes decrease after SAVR
or TAVR in patients with severe AS.
Keywords
aortic valve stenosis - monocyte subsets - TAVR - SAVR
