Plasma osteoprotegerin (OPG), a cytokine from the TNF receptor family, correlates with the degree of valve calcification in AS, reflecting the activity of the tissue RANKL/RANK/OPG (receptor activator of nuclear factor κΒ ligand/RANK/osteoprotegerin) axis, and is associated with poorer outcomes in AS.
Myocardial gene expression of TNFalpha was significantly higher in patients with well compensated AS than in patients with decompensated AS (p = 0.017).