title: Severe aortic stenosis and its association with hypertension: analysis of clinical and echocardiographic parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aortic stenosis (AS) and hypertension are associated with cardiac hypertrophy and aortic dilatation. The effect of their coincidence on the ascending aortic dimensions has not yet been evaluated, and therefore was the aim of our study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed cross-sectional analysis of history, clinical, angiographic and echocardiographic data of consecutive patients evaluated before surgery for non-rheumatic AS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample included 225 patients (age 68+/-9 years, 60% males), with mean transaortic gradient of 55+/-17 mmHg. Hypertension was present in 153 (68%) patients. The hypertensives had more severe dyspnea (NYHA class 2.2+/-0.9 vs 1.9+/-0.9, p = 0.05) and higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (57% vs 33%, p = 0.001), but did not differ from the normotensives in the ascending aortic dimensions, the left ventricular mass, ejection fraction and remodeling patterns. Wider ascending aortic dimensions were independently associated with bicuspid aortic valve (p<0.001), and with maximal gradient in those with tricuspid aortic valve. Vasodilators were used in 84 (54%) hypertensives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found hypertension in 68% of patients with severe AS. Bicuspid aortic valve and stenosis severity were independent predictors of ascending aortic dimensions, but not the history of hypertension and blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic. linhartkaterina@atlas.cz
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Linhartová
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Filipovský
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerbák
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sterbáková
authors.forename: Iveta
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hanisová
authors.forename: Václav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Beránek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents