Mitral annular calcification
Updates to Article Attributes
Mitral annular calcification refers to the deposition of calcium (along with lipid) in the annular fibrosa of the mitral valve.
Epidemiology
Annular calcification is seen in up to 35% of elderly patients. It is common in females over 65 years, in those with myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve and those with elevated left ventricular pressures.
Associations
It is also associated with an increased prevalence of severe obstructive coronary artery disease particularly in older (>65 years) age groups 2. It is more often seen in patients with chronic renal failure.
Clinical presentation
Although annular calcification is associated with mitral regurgitation, this is usually trivial and asymptomatic. Calcification of the annulus can however impede AV nodal conduction and therefore lead to varying degrees of heart block. Calcification of the leaflets can cause mitral stenosis.
Pathology
Pathologically it is important to distinguish annular calcification from mitral valve leaflet calcification. In annular calcification, the diseased annulus is covered with intact endothelium. It can also undergo caseous necrosis and embolizeembolise to the brain.
Compared to aortic valve calcification, calcification of the mitral annulus is not significantly associated with stenosis of the valve and it is no longer felt to represent an independent risk factor for stroke 1.
Variants
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
On a frontal chest radiograph, calcification is demonstrated in the expected location of the mitral valve. It typically begins around the margins of the posterior leaflet forming a "J" or "C", eventually with anterior leaflet involvement the "C" closes forming an "O".
CT
CT is more sensitive for calcification of the annulus although it depends on the degree of motion artefact (which is a factor of heart rate and scan time).
Treatment and prognosis
Annular calcification per se does not require any treatment. Instead, patients are managed according to the presence of heart block, mitral regurgitation (usually minimal) and other cardiovascular signs and symptoms.
-<p><strong>Mitral annular calcification</strong> refers to the deposition of calcium (along with lipid) in the <a href="/articles/mitral-annulus">annular fibrosa</a> of the <a href="/articles/mitral-valve">mitral valve</a>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Annular calcification is seen in up to 35% of elderly patients. It is common in females over 65 years, in those with <a href="/articles/myxomatous-mitral-valve-degeneration">myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve</a> and those with elevated left ventricular pressures.</p><h5>Associations</h5><p>It is also associated with an increased prevalence of severe obstructive <a href="/articles/coronary-artery-disease">coronary artery disease</a> particularly in older (>65 years) age groups <sup>2</sup>. It is more often seen in patients with chronic renal failure.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Although annular calcification is associated with <a href="/articles/mitral-regurgitation">mitral regurgitation</a>, this is usually trivial and asymptomatic. Calcification of the annulus can however impede <a href="/articles/av-nodal-conduction">AV nodal conduction</a> and therefore lead to varying degrees of <a href="/articles/heart-block">heart block</a>. Calcification of the leaflets can cause <a href="/articles/mitral-valve-stenosis-1">mitral stenosis</a>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Pathologically it is important to distinguish annular calcification from <a href="/articles/mitral-valve-leaflet-calcification">mitral valve leaflet calcification</a>. In annular calcification, the diseased annulus is covered with intact endothelium. It can also undergo caseous necrosis and embolize to the brain.</p><p>Compared to <a href="/articles/aortic-valve-calcification">aortic valve calcification</a>, calcification of the mitral annulus is not significantly associated with <a href="/articles/mitral-valve-stenosis-1">stenosis of the valve</a> and it is no longer felt to represent an independent risk factor for <a href="/articles/stroke">stroke</a> <sup>1</sup>.</p><h5>Variants</h5><ul><li><a href="/articles/caseous-calcification-of-the-mitral-annulus">caseous calcification of the mitral annulus</a></li></ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>On a frontal <a href="/articles/chest-radiograph">chest radiograph</a>, calcification is demonstrated in the expected location of the mitral valve. It typically begins around the margins of the posterior leaflet forming a "J" or "C", eventually with anterior leaflet involvement the "C" closes forming an "O".</p><h5>CT</h5><p>CT is more sensitive for calcification of the annulus although it depends on the degree of motion artefact (which is a factor of heart rate and scan time).</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Annular calcification <em>per se</em> does not require any treatment. Instead, patients are managed according to the presence of heart block, mitral regurgitation (usually minimal) and other cardiovascular signs and symptoms. </p>- +<p><strong>Mitral annular calcification</strong> refers to the deposition of calcium (along with lipid) in the <a href="/articles/mitral-annulus">annular fibrosa</a> of the <a href="/articles/mitral-valve">mitral valve</a>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Annular calcification is seen in up to 35% of elderly patients. It is common in females over 65 years, in those with <a href="/articles/myxomatous-mitral-valve-degeneration">myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve</a> and those with elevated left ventricular pressures.</p><h5>Associations</h5><p>It is also associated with an increased prevalence of severe obstructive <a href="/articles/coronary-artery-disease">coronary artery disease</a> particularly in older (>65 years) age groups <sup>2</sup>. It is more often seen in patients with chronic renal failure.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Although annular calcification is associated with <a href="/articles/mitral-regurgitation">mitral regurgitation</a>, this is usually trivial and asymptomatic. Calcification of the annulus can however impede <a href="/articles/av-nodal-conduction">AV nodal conduction</a> and therefore lead to varying degrees of <a href="/articles/heart-block">heart block</a>. Calcification of the leaflets can cause <a href="/articles/mitral-valve-stenosis-1">mitral stenosis</a>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Pathologically it is important to distinguish annular calcification from <a href="/articles/mitral-valve-leaflet-calcification">mitral valve leaflet calcification</a>. In annular calcification, the diseased annulus is covered with intact endothelium. It can also undergo caseous necrosis and embolise to the brain.</p><p>Compared to <a href="/articles/aortic-valve-calcification">aortic valve calcification</a>, calcification of the mitral annulus is not significantly associated with <a href="/articles/mitral-valve-stenosis-1">stenosis of the valve</a> and it is no longer felt to represent an independent risk factor for <a href="/articles/stroke">stroke</a> <sup>1</sup>.</p><h5>Variants</h5><ul><li><a href="/articles/caseous-calcification-of-the-mitral-annulus">caseous calcification of the mitral annulus</a></li></ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>On a frontal <a href="/articles/chest-radiograph">chest radiograph</a>, calcification is demonstrated in the expected location of the mitral valve. It typically begins around the margins of the posterior leaflet forming a "J" or "C", eventually with anterior leaflet involvement the "C" closes forming an "O".</p><h5>CT</h5><p>CT is more sensitive for calcification of the annulus although it depends on the degree of motion artefact (which is a factor of heart rate and scan time).</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Annular calcification <em>per se</em> does not require any treatment. Instead, patients are managed according to the presence of heart block, mitral regurgitation (usually minimal) and other cardiovascular signs and symptoms. </p>
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