Impact of blood pressure on the Doppler echocardiographic assessment of severity of aortic stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of blood pressure (BP) on the Doppler echocardiographic (Doppler-echo) evaluation of severity of aortic stenosis (AS).


METHODS
Handgrip exercise or phenylephrine infusion was used to increase BP in 22 patients with AS. Indices of AS severity (mean pressure gradient (DeltaP(mean)), aortic valve area (AVA), valve resistance, percentage left ventricular stroke work loss (% LVSW loss) and the energy loss coefficient (ELCo)) were measured at baseline, peak BP intervention and recovery.


RESULTS
From baseline to peak intervention, mean (SD) BP increased (99 (8) vs 121 (10) mm Hg, p<0.001), systemic vascular resistance (SVR) increased (1294 (264) vs 1552 (372) dynexs/cm(5), p<0.001) and mean (SD) transvalvular flow rate (Q(mean)) decreased (323 (67) vs 306 (66) ml/s, p = 0.02). There was no change in DeltaP(mean) (36 (13) vs 36 (14) mm Hg, p = NS). However, there was a decrease in AVA (1.15 (0.32) vs 1.09 (0.33) cm(2), p = 0.02) and ELCo (1.32 (0.40) vs 1.24 (0.42) cm(2), p = 0.04), and an increase in valve resistance (153 (63) vs 164 (74) dynexs/cm(5), p = 0.02), suggesting a more severe valve stenosis. In contrast, % LVSW loss decreased (19.8 (6) vs 16.5 (6)%, p<0.001), suggesting a less severe valve stenosis. There was an inverse relationship between the change in mean BP and AVA (r = -0.34, p = 0.02); however, only the change in Q(mean) was an independent predictor of the change in AVA (r = 0.81, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Acute BP elevation due to increased SVR can affect the Doppler-echo evaluation of AS severity. However, the impact of BP on the assessment of AS severity depends primarily on the associated change in Q(mean), rather than on an independent effect of SVR or arterial compliance, and can result in a valve appearing either more or less stenotic depending on the direction and magnitude of the change in Q(mean).
Little
Stephen H
SH
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Chan
Kwan-Leung
KL
Burwash
Ian G
IG
D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D010656:Phenylephrine