title: Bicuspid aortic valves experience increased strain as compared to tricuspid aortic valves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the leaflets of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) experience increased strain when compared to tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) leaflets.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The population at highest risk of aortic valve calcification (AVC) are individuals with BAVs. Currently, efforts to medically treat AVC are hampered by a limited understanding of the biomechanical forces involved in the molecular pathogenesis of AVC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgically created BAVs and control TAVs were placed into a left heart simulator. Strains were calculated by comparing the distances between points on the aortic valve (AoV) leaflet during various time points during a simulated cardiac cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fused leaflets of BAVs experience significantly more strain during systole when compared to TAVs. Specifically, BAVs experience 24% strain (P < .0001) in the radial direction, parallel to the direction of blood flow, as compared to TAVs. There was peak difference of 4% (P < .001) in the circumferential direction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based upon the data presented here, we are in the process of identifying how increased strain activates calcification-associated pathways in AoV cells. Future studies will examine whether these stretch responsive pathways can be blocked to inhibit calcification of BAVs.
authors: Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Szeto
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Pastuszko
authors: Juan C
authors: JC
authors: del Álamo
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Lasheras
authors: Vishal
authors: V
authors: Nigam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D000082882:Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D013552:Swine; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery
keywords: aortic valve calcification; bicuspid aortic valve; mechanical stretch