title: The effects of successful percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty on acute and intermediate term aortic stiffness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) on short- and intermediate-term aortic stiffness in patients with mitral stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 56 patients with critical mitral stenosis in normal sinus rhythm (68% female; mean age: 42 ± 11 years) and 37 healthy controls. Aortic stiffness was measured using transthoracic echocardiography before PMBV, and 24-48 hours and 1 year post procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aortic strain and distensibility were significantly higher in the patients with mitral stenosis, both after PMBV and 1 year post procedure, whereas the aortic stiffness index (ASI) was significantly lower. There was also a significant decrease in mitral mean gradient (MMG) and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) after PMBV, based on echocardiography and catheterization. Mitral valve area (MVA) significantly increased after PMBV. There was a significant correlation between change in ∆MVA and ∆MMG and aortic elastic properties. There was a significantly negative correlation between the ∆MVA and ∆∆ aortic stiffness (r = -0.62, P < 0.001), and a significantly positive correlation between ∆MMG and ∆ASI (r = 0.60, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mitral valve stenosis was associated with impaired aortic stiffness and following PMBV, aortic stiffness decreased during both the acute period and the intermediate period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, State Hospital Aksaray, Aksaray, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inci
authors.forename: Gökay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nar
authors.forename: Mustafa Kemal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Selami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirelli
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duman
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serdar
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Erol
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D063126:Balloon Valvuloplasty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: mitral stenosis; percutaneous intervention; transthoracic echocardiography