title: Calcification Characteristics of Low-Flow Low-Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.
abstract: Low-flow low-gradient severe aortic stenosis (LFLGAS) is associated with worse outcomes. Aortic valve calcification patterns of LFLGAS as compared to non-LFLGAS have not yet been thoroughly assessed. 137 patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with preprocedural multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and postprocedural transthoracic echocardiography were enrolled. Calcification characteristics were assessed by MDCT both for the total aortic valve and separately for each leaflet. 34 patients had LFLGAS and 103 non-LFLGAS. Total aortic valve calcification volume (p < 0.001), mass (p < 0.001), and density (p = 0.004) were lower in LFLGAS as compared to non-LFLGAS patients. At 30-day follow-up, mean transaortic pressure gradients and more than mild paravalvular regurgitation did not differ between groups. In conclusion, LFLGAS and non-LFLGAS express different calcification patterns which, however, did not impact on device success after TAVR.
authors.affiliation: University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Stähli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thi Dan Linh
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Nguyen-Kim
authors.affiliation: University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cathérine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gebhard
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frauenfelder
authors.affiliation: University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Felix C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nietlispach
authors.affiliation: University Heart Center, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.affiliation: University Heart Center, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.affiliation: University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lüscher
authors.affiliation: University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Willibald
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ronald K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Binder