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Frequency of aortic root dilation in children with a bicuspid aortic valve

Michelle Gurvitz1, Ruey-Kang Chang, Stacey Drant

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, USA. mgurvitz@ucla.edu <mgurvitz@ucla.edu>

The American Journal of Cardiology
|November 16, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) in children is linked to larger aortic root dimensions, even without valve dysfunction. This suggests early aortic root changes occur in BAV patients from childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

  • Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital heart defect associated with aortic root dilation and dissection in adults.
  • The onset and conditions under which aortic root dilation begins in BAV patients remain unclear.
  • Early identification of aortic root abnormalities in children with BAV is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate aortic root dimensions and hemodynamics in children with BAV.
  • To determine if aortic root dilation is present in pediatric BAV patients.
  • To assess the influence of aortic stenosis or regurgitation on aortic root size in children with BAV.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of echocardiographic data.
  • Comparison of aortic root dimensions between children with BAV (n=76) and healthy controls (n=41).
  • Assessment of valve hemodynamics, including aortic stenosis and regurgitation.

Main Results:

  • Children with BAV exhibited significantly larger aortic root dimensions compared to controls (p <0.001).
  • Aortic root dilation was observed in BAV patients irrespective of the presence or severity of aortic stenosis or regurgitation.
  • Hemodynamic data indicated potential early functional changes associated with BAV.

Conclusions:

  • Aortic root dilation is an early finding in children with bicuspid aortic valve.
  • BAV itself, independent of significant valve dysfunction, is associated with aortic root enlargement from childhood.
  • These findings highlight the importance of regular cardiovascular monitoring for pediatric BAV patients to detect aortic root abnormalities early.

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