cLinicaL cardioLogy: originaL articLe
Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in subjects with a bicuspid aortic valve without significant valvular dysfunction Mehmet Demir MD M Demir. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in subjects with a bicuspid aortic valve without significant valvular dysfunction. Exp Clin Cardiol 2013;18(1):e1-e4. BaCkgrOunD: The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) represents the most common cardiac congenital malformation in adults. It is frequently associated with dilation, aneurysm and dissection of the ascending aorta. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in subjects with BAVs. METHODS: Thirty-five subjects with BAV (mean [± SD] age 25.9±5.7 years [range 17 to 36 years]; 18 male, 17 female) with either no valvular impairment or mild valvular impairment were recruited along with 30 control subjects (24.5±4.4 years of age [range 15 to 35 years]; 15 male, 15 female) who were matched for age, sex and body surface area. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function were evaluated using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic parameters were compared between the two groups.
T
he bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) represents the most common cardiac congenital malformation in adults. It is frequently associated with dilation, aneurysm and dissection of the ascending aorta. The incidence of BAVs in the general population is 1.0% to 2.0% (1-3). A congenital BAV may function normally throughout life, developing progressive calcification and stenosis, or possibly regurgitation with or without infection (2). Aortic root dilation is common in BAVs, even when the valve is hemodynamically normal; consequently, aortic dissection usually occurs in previously asymptomatic subjects (4). In most cases, BAVs remain undetected until either infection or calcification supervenes (5). Aortic stenosis and regurgitation, infective endocarditis and aortic dissection are the most common complications of a BAV. Left coronary artery dominance is more common in subjects with BAVs (29% to 56.8%) and, in 90% of cases, the left main coronary artery is
Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in subjects with a bicuspid aortic valve without significant valvular dysfunction Mehmet Demir MD M Demir. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in subjects with a bicuspid aortic valve without significant valvular dysfunction. Exp Clin Cardiol 2013;18(1):e1-e4. BaCkgrOunD: The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) represents the most common cardiac congenital malformation in adults. It is frequently associated with dilation, aneurysm and dissection of the ascending aorta. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in subjects with BAVs. METHODS: Thirty-five subjects with BAV (mean [± SD] age 25.9±5.7 years [range 17 to 36 years]; 18 male, 17 female) with either no valvular impairment or mild valvular impairment were recruited along with 30 control subjects (24.5±4.4 years of age [range 15 to 35 years]; 15 male, 15 female) who were matched for age, sex and body surface area. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function were evaluated using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic parameters were compared between the two groups.
T
he bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) represents the most common cardiac congenital malformation in adults. It is frequently associated with dilation, aneurysm and dissection of the ascending aorta. The incidence of BAVs in the general population is 1.0% to 2.0% (1-3). A congenital BAV may function normally throughout life, developing progressive calcification and stenosis, or possibly regurgitation with or without infection (2). Aortic root dilation is common in BAVs, even when the valve is hemodynamically normal; consequently, aortic dissection usually occurs in previously asymptomatic subjects (4). In most cases, BAVs remain undetected until either infection or calcification supervenes (5). Aortic stenosis and regurgitation, infective endocarditis and aortic dissection are the most common complications of a BAV. Left coronary artery dominance is more common in subjects with BAVs (29% to 56.8%) and, in 90% of cases, the left main coronary artery is
