title: Frequency of bicuspid aortic valve in young male conscripts by echocardiogram.
abstract: The database of echocardiographic examinations performed during the military screening of 20,946 young men in northeastern Italy was systematically reviewed to assess the frequency, hemodynamic characteristics, and aortic sizes of subjects with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs). One hundred sixty-seven patients with BAVs were identified (0.8%), of whom 80 (48%) were diagnosed de novo during military screening. Aortic insufficiency was the predominant hemodynamic lesion in 110 subjects (66%), mild in 90, and moderate to severe in 20. Patients with BAVs displayed larger aortic sizes than controls at each aortic level, and the degree of dilation was related to the presence but not the severity of aortic insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Service, CMSR Veneto Medica, Altavilla Vicentina (VI), Italy. snistr@tin.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nistri
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marzari
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mormino
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiene
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index