title: Anotomic interaction between the aortic root and the atrial septum: a prospective echocardiographic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We recently demonstrated that patients with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome and an enlarged aortic root had a smaller and hypermobile atrial septum (AS) compared with those with a normal aortic root. However, this was a partly retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 72 patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. The aortic root diameter, AS dimension, AS oscillation amplitude (ASo), and atrial pressure gradient were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant correlations were found: aortic root diameter and AS dimension (r = -0.5, P < .001), aortic root diameter and ASo (r = +0.3, P = .014), AS dimension and ASo (r = -0.28, P = .02), and ASo and atrial pressure gradient (r = -0.36, P = .003). Nineteen patients presented with patent foramen ovale; those with grade 3 shunting had significantly higher mobility of the AS and larger aortic roots.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm that an increasing aortic size affects the AS by decreasing its apparent size and increasing its mobility. In case of a patent foramen ovale, increased AS mobility is associated with greater shunting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Dijon, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Géraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertaux
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Eicher
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dobsák
authors.forename: Jean-Eric
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001021:Aortic Valve; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017725:Ventricular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D014741:Video Recording