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Published on: April 13, 2015
Coronary flow reserve improves after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis: an adenosine transthoracic
D J Hildick-Smith1, L M Shapiro
1Cardiac Unit, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom. david.hildick-smith@papworth-tr.anglox.nhs.uk
Insights
Coronary flow reserve (CFR) significantly improves after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis. This enhancement in CFR is associated with the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Cardiac Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Coronary flow reserve (CFR) can be impaired by left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy.
- The impact of LV hypertrophy regression on CFR in humans following aortic valve replacement (AVR) is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in coronary flow reserve (CFR) before and after aortic valve replacement (AVR).
- To investigate the relationship between left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy regression and CFR improvement post-AVR.
Main Methods:
- Adenosine transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess 35 patients with aortic stenosis and LV hypertrophy before and six months after AVR.
- Measurements included left ventricular mass, distal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) diameter, flow, and CFR.
Main Results:
- A significant reduction in left ventricular mass was observed post-AVR.
- While resting coronary artery flow parameters remained unchanged, hyperemic flow and coronary flow reserve (CFR) significantly increased after AVR.
- CFR increased from 1.76 to 2.61 post-AVR.
Conclusions:
- Aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis leads to a significant increase in coronary flow reserve.
- The improvement in CFR is directly linked to the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy.
Objectives:
The goal of this study was to assess coronary flow reserve (CFR) before and after aortic valve replacement (AVR).
Background:
Coronary flow reserve is impaired under conditions of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. It is not known whether CFR improves with regression of LV hypertrophy in humans.
Methods:
We investigated 35 patients with pure aortic stenosis, LV hypertrophy and normal coronary arteriograms. Patients underwent adenosine transthoracic echocardiography on two occasions--immediately before AVR and six months postoperatively. Left ventricular mass, distal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) diameter, flow and CFR were assessed on each occasion.
Results:
Distal LAD diameter was successfully imaged in 30 patients (86%), and blood flow was successfully imaged in 27 (77%). Paired data were subsequently available in 24 patients, of whom 14 were men, mean age 68.1+/-12.5 years, body mass index 24.5+/-2.0 kg/m2, aortic valve gradient 93+/-32 mm Hg. Pre- to post-AVR a significant decrease was seen in LV mass (271+/-38 vs. 236+/-32g, p<0.01) and LV mass index (154+/-21 vs. 134+/-21 g/m2, p< 0.01). Distal LAD diameter fell from 2.27+/-0.37 to 2.23+/-0.35 mm, p = 0.08). Pre- to post-AVR there was no significant change in resting parameters of peak diastolic velocity (0.43+/-0.16 vs. 0.41+/-0.11 m/s), distal LAD flow 23.3+/-10.1 vs. 20.9+/-5.2 ml/min or distal LAD flow scaled for LV mass (8.7+/-3.8 vs. 9.0+/-2.5 ml/min/100 g LV mass), but there was significant increase in hyperemic peak diastolic velocity (0.71+/-0.26 vs. 1.08+/-0.24 m/s; p<0.01), distal LAD flow (37.8+/-11.3 vs. 53.5+/-16.1 ml/min; p<0.01) and distal LAD flow scaled for LV mass (14.3+/-5.0 vs. 23.3+/-8.5 ml/min/100 g LV mass; p<0.01). Coronary flow reserve, therefore, increased from 1.76+/-0.5 to 2.61+/-0.7.
Conclusions:
Coronary flow reserve increases after AVR for aortic stenosis. This increase occurs in tandem with regression of LV hypertrophy.
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