Aortic elasticity and size in bicuspid aortic valve syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relation between aortic elastic properties and size in bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs).


RESULTS
127 BAV outpatients (121 males; age 23 +/- 10 years) with no or mild valvular impairment, were recruited with 114 control subjects comparable for age, gender, and body size. Aortic distensibility (DIS) and stiffness index (SI) were derived by M-mode evaluation of the aortic root together with blood pressure measured by cuff sphygmomanometer. BAVs vs. controls had increased aortic diameter (P < 0.0001), higher systolic (P = 0.02) and pulse (P = 0.04) pressures. DIS was lower in BAVs than in controls (4.71 +/- 3.67 vs. 7.44 +/- 3.94 10(-6) cm(2)dyne(-1), respectively; P < 0.0001) and SI was greater in BAVs (7.21 +/- 4.93 vs. 3.57 +/- 1.88, respectively; P < 0.0001). Definite impairment in aortic elasticity was present in 53 (42%) BAVs. Both DIS and SI were related (P < 0.0001) to aortic size in BAVs and controls. After adjusting for aortic size and blood pressure, the regression relations between SI and aortic diameter of BAVs were significantly different from controls (P = 0.0052).


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal aortic elasticity is a common finding in BAVs with no or mild aortic valve impairment. However, impaired aortic stiffness is not due to aortic dilation. Simple assessment of aortic size may thus fail to identify early abnormal load bearing characteristics of the aortic wall in BAVs.
Nistri
Stefano
S
Cardiology Service-CMSR Veneto Medica, Via Vicenza, 204, Altavilla Vicentina (VI), 36077 Vicenza, Italy. snistr@tin.it
Grande-Allen
Jane
J
Noale
Marianna
M
Basso
Cristina
C
Siviero
Paola
P
Maggi
Stefania
S
Crepaldi
Gaetano
G
Thiene
Gaetano
G
D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome