Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: 1. mild to moderate aortic stenosis defined by a mean pressure gradient using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) between 15-25mmHg. 2. age greater than18 years; 3. given informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. bicuspid aortic valve 2. associated moderate to severe aortic regurgitation 3. associated other valvular pathology of moderate or greater severity 4. LV dysfunction (EF\<50%); 5. decompensated heart failure; 6. active infection (e.g. pneumonia, active skin infections, and on antibiotics); 7. chronic diarrhea; 8. immune compromise (e.g. recurrent infection); 9. history of cancer within the last 3 years (other than a successfully treated cutaneous squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma or localized carcinoma in situ of the cervix). 10. active inflammatory conditions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, SLE, systemic anti-inflammatory therapy (e.g. prednisone, methotrexate)); 11. pregnancy (all women of child bearing potential will have a negative BHCG test; 12. breastfeeding; 13. Women of childbearing potential who refuse to use two forms of contraception (this includes at least one form of highly effective and one effective method of contraception) throughout the study OR men capable of fathering a child who refuse to use contraception. 14. glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \<50 ml/min/1.72m2; 15. Use of p-glycoprotein inhibitor (e.g. cyclosporine, verapamil, or quinidine) or a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (e.g. ritonavir, clarithromycin, or ketoconazole); 16. Hemoglobin \< 105(women) \<110 (men) g/L; WBC \< 3.0x 10(9)/L, platelet count\< 110x 10(9)/L; 17. Patient with a history of cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis or severe hepatic disease or with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal. 18. unable to give informed consent