Calcified valvular disease in the elderly

In 1904 Monckebery first discovered that people will have degenerative changes during natural aging, leading to calcified aortic stenosis (CAS). Dewitsky first described mitral annular calcification (MAC) in 1910, and believed that the calcification was caused by degenerative changes. Thereafter, pathologists and clinicians systematically observed the changes of heart valves with age, and confirmed the calcified heart. Valvular disease is an aging disease caused by valve aging, degenerative changes, and calcium deposits that increase with age. It is also known as senile degenerative valve disease or senile heart calcification syndrome.