Aortic valve disease has long been linked to an increased incidence of heart attacks and death from cardiovascular disease, but a new study says inflammation may really be the culprit.While the study found people with aortic sclerosis -- a narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart that can lead to aortic stenosis -- were more than twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or to die, the authors believe aortic disease alone isn’t to blame. Instead, a history of coronary artery disease or other heart disease, high levels of the inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP), and age were the highest risk factors for heart attack and death."In the past, aortic sclerosis was always associated
