Effect of aortic valve replacement on c-reactive protein in nonrheumatic aortic stenosis.

Plasma levels of C-reactive protein were higher in 20 patients with bicuspid or trileaflet degenerative aortic stenosis than in 31 normal controls and in 19 patients with pure aortic regurgitation. C-reactive protein decreased from before to 6 months after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. These observations suggest that aortic stenosis is an inflammatory disease.