Abnormal aortic elastic properties in adults with congenital valvular aortic stenosis.
BACKGROUND
Abnormalities of the aortic root are common in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve. Our aim was to investigate the elastic properties of the aortic root in patients with congenital aortic valvular stenosis (AS) in comparison with age- and gender-matched controls, and to investigate the influence of stenosis severity and aortic size on aortic root elasticity.


METHODS
Thirty-two adults (mean age 30.4+/-7.5 years, 22 men) with congenital AS without previous cardiovascular surgery were prospectively studied. Aortic root elasticity indices such as aortic stiffness index (ASI), aortic root distensibility (ARD), and aortic strain were calculated with the use of M-mode echocardiography.


RESULTS
ASI was significantly higher in patients compared to controls, 8.5+/-8.4 versus 4.0+/-1.4, respectively (P<0.01). Other indices of aortic root elasticity were similar between patients and controls: ARD was 4.2+/-3.6 versus 4.3+/-1.9 x 10(-6) cm(2)/dynes, respectively, and aortic strain was 12.4+/-9.6 versus 13.5+/-5.0%, respectively (P=NS for all). Correlations were found between aortic size and indices of aortic elasticity (i.e., aortic strain and ARD), denoting that an increased aortic dimension is associated with a stiffer aorta. Interestingly, no correlations were found between indices of severity of AS and aortic elasticity, suggesting that an abnormal aortic elasticity is independent of stenosis severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Congenital AS results in abnormal aortic elastic properties, independent of stenosis severity. Furthermore, there seems to be a relationship between aortic dimensions and aortic stiffness.
Yap
Sing-Chien
SC
Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. s.c.yap@erasmusmc.nl
Nemes
Attila
A
Meijboom
Folkert J
FJ
Galema
Tjebbe W
TW
Geleijnse
Marcel L
ML
ten Cate
Folkert J
FJ
Simoons
Maarten L
ML
Roos-Hesselink
Jolien W
JW
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies