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Heart Beat: Can ACE inhibitors trump heart-valve calcium buildup?

Heart Beat

Can ACE inhibitors trump heart-valve calcium buildup?

How is an aging aortic valve like an old water pipe? Both get gummed up by mineral deposits. In the case of the aortic valve, the main culprit is calcium.

Bone-like nodules of calcium can choke off the opening available for blood flow that occurs when the valve springs apart with each contraction of the powerful left ventricle. These nodules can also keep the valve from closing completely when it is supposed to snap shut to prevent the backward flow of blood into the heart.

Experts once thought the accumulation of calcium was the near-inevitable result of wear and tear. Research, though, suggests that it may be possible to slow, halt, or even reverse the gradual accumulation of calcium in the valve.

If so, ACE inhibitors could play a role. These drugs, initially used for controlling blood pressure, are now prescribed for a variety of cardiovascular conditions. A small study from Harbor–UCLA Medical Center in California showed that calcium accumulated in the aortic valve more slowly in people who were taking an ACE inhibitor than in those who weren’t.

The study, reported in the April 2, 2005, Archives of Internal Medicine, doesn’t mean the ACE inhibitor you are taking will correct calcium buildup in your aortic valve, or that you should start taking one. It does, however, point the way to future treatments for this common and potentially damaging condition.

Last updated:	August 21, 2006