Crystalline Ultrastructures, Inflammatory Elements, and Neoangiogenesis Are Present in Inconspicuous Aortic Valve Tissue

Table 1

Chemical composition of crystalline ultrastructures in inconspicuous valve areas (HNCA) and in massive calcifications of the same samples (HCA) given by FT-IR: proportions of proteines (Prot) and tendencially triclycerides (TGLs) are higher in areas with crystalline ultrastructures. Carbonated calcium hydroxylapatite (CA) is present in inconspicuous areas, while amorphous carbonated calcium phosphate (ACCP) is only present in massive calcifications. No significant differences were found for cholesterol (Chol) or whewellite (C1).

Samples	CA	ACCP	Prot	TGL	Chol	C1
HCA 1	59%	18%	20%	3%	—	—
HCA 2	47%	20%	20%	8%	5%	—
HCA 3	56%	20%	20%	4%	—	—
HCA 4	57%	15%	20%	5%	—	3%
HNCA 1	10%	—	87%	3%	—	—
HNCA 2	11%	—	75%	9%	5%	—
HNCA 3	12%	—	82%	6%	—	—
HNCA 4	5%	—	90%	2%	—	—
Control	12%	—	72%	12%	4%	—