Left ventricular remodeling in valvular aortic stenosis. Echocardiographic and clinical changes in two patients during follow-up.
Left ventricular (LV) response to chronic pressure overload of aortic stenosis (AS) is usually characterized by an increase of wall thickness without cavity enlargement ("concentric hypertrophy"). During follow-up, two patients with AS developed relevant structural and functional changes of the left ventricle, ie, progressive LV dilatation, wall thinning, and reduction of systolic performance. At the same time, the patients had clinical symptoms of congestive heart failure. The pathophysiologic relevance of this form of LV remodeling in AS is discussed.
Faggiano
P
P
Division of Cardiology, S. Orsola-Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Brescia, Italy.
Rusconi
C
C
Ghizzoni
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left