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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, RESULTS, BACKGROUND. Meshes: Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Biomarkers, Calcinosis, Disease Progression, Female, Fluorine Radioisotopes, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18, Humans, Male, Positron-Emission Tomography, Reproducibility of Results, Severity of Illness Index, Sodium Fluoride.
user
Is 18F-sodium fluoride uptake a marker of active calcification and disease progression in patients with aortic stenosis? Context: 18F-Sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) are promising novel biomarkers of disease activity in aortic stenosis. We compared 18F-NaF and 18F-FDG uptake with histological characterization of the aortic valve and assessed whether they predicted disease progression. Thirty patients with aortic stenosis underwent combined positron emission and computed tomography using 18F-NaF and 18F-FDG radiotracers. In 12 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery (10 for each tracer), radiotracer uptake (mean tissue/ =0.65; P=0.04) and osteocalcin (r=0.68; P=0.03) immunohistochemistry. There was no significant correlation between 18F-FDG uptake and CD68 staining (r=-0.43; P=0.22). After 1 year, aortic valve calcification increased from 314 (193-540) to 365 (207-934) AU (P<0.01). Baseline 18F-NaF uptake correlated closely with the change in calcium score (r=0.66; P<0.01), and this improved further (r=0.75; P<0.01) when 18F-NaF uptake overlying computed tomography-defined macrocalcification was excluded. No significant correlation was noted between valvular 18F-FDG uptake and change in calcium score (r=-0.11; P=0.66).
assistant
18F-NaF uptake identifies active tissue calcification and predicts disease progression in patients with calcific aortic stenosis. Final Decision: yes