Aortic dilatation in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.
The association of a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with abnormalities of the proximal thoracic aorta, including dilatation, aneurysm and dissection, has been previously described, leading to the hypothesis of a common underlying developmental defect involving the aortic valve and the aortic wall. Consequently, any patient with BAV should receive a careful assessment not only of the valve function, but also of the aortic root and the ascending aorta. Dilatation of the proximal thoracic aorta is a common finding in patients with BAV and is believed to be related to aortic rupture and dissection. Because progressive dilatation can occur, careful long-term surveillance of the aortic dimensions is required. Prophylactic surgical repair of the dilated aorta should be recommended more aggressively for patients with BAV than for those with a tricuspid aortic valve. However, the optimal timing of aortic surgery in BAV patients remains uncertain because of the limited data available on the natural history of asymptomatic aortic dilatation.
Cecconi
Moreno
M
Presidio Monospecialistico di Alta Specializzazione 'G.M. Lancisi', Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I - G.M. Lancisi - G. Salesi, Ancona, Italy. morcecconi@tiscalinet.it
Nistri
Stefano
S
Quarti
Andrea
A
Manfrin
Marcello
M
Colonna
Pier Luigi
PL
Molini
Epifanio
E
Perna
Gian Piero
GP
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002648:Child; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence