Ascending Aortic Stiffness with Bicuspid Aortic Valve is Variable and Not Predicted by Conventional Parameters in Young Patients.
J Heart Valve Dis
; 25(3): 270-280, 2016 05.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27989036
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)-related aortopathy is characterized by histological abnormalities that result in aortic wall stiffening and aortic dilation. The study aim was to determine the range of ascending aortic stiffness seen in a clinical cohort of patients with BAV, and to identify the association of aortic stiffness with standard clinical and imaging parameters.METHODS:
Patients with BAV (n = 65) and normal subjects (n = 10) were studied using conventional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging through the ascending aorta. Local aortic stiffness was estimated by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) using the flow-area (QA) method. Correlations between PWV and other imaging and clinical variables were assessed, and multiple linear regression models were used to examine independent predictors of PWV.RESULTS:
BAV patients demonstrated a significantly higher mean PWV compared to normal subjects (6.53 ± 5.88 versus 3.51 ± 0.92 m/s; p <0.01) with a considerably wider range of values noted in the BAV group. Significant associations were found between PWV and age (r = 0.4, p <0.001) and history of hypertension (r = 0.36, p = 0.005) in the overall BAV cohort. The correlation between age and PWV was significantly strengthened above 40 years of age. In a subgroup of BAV patients aged <40 years (n = 37) there were no significant predictors of PWV identified by multiple linear regression models.CONCLUSIONS:
BAV patients demonstrated an increased average ascending aortic stiffness and a dramatically higher range of stiffness values compared to normal subjects. Increased stiffness is not predicted by standard clinical or imaging parameters in patients aged <40 years. Ascending aortic stiffness may be a unique marker of early aortic dysfunction in young BAV patients.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Aorta
/
Aortic Diseases
/
Aortic Valve
/
Vascular Stiffness
/
Heart Valve Diseases
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
J Heart Valve Dis
Journal subject:
CARDIOLOGIA
Year:
2016
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States