Mitral annular calcifications and aortic plaques as predictors of increased cardiovascular mortality.

Objectives: Mitral annular calcifications (MAC) and aortic plaques are predictive for higher incidence of recurrent embolic events, the presence and severity of coronary artery disease and total cardiac deaths. However, no data exist comparing the impact of combined presence of both aortic plaques and MAC on embolic events, deaths associated with cerebral embolism or cardiac deaths during the follow-up.

Patients And Methods: In 100 consecutive patients with aortic plaques detected by transesophageal echocardiography (mean age 69.