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Published on: December 2, 2014

Ascending aorta elasticity in children with isolated bicuspid aortic valve

Ignacio Oulego-Erroz1, Paula Alonso-Quintela, María Mora-Matilla

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León. Altos de Nava s/n, 24008, León, Spain.

International Journal of Cardiology
|December 13, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) have impaired aortic elasticity, even without significant valve issues. This reduced elasticity is independent of aortic size and may help identify at-risk children.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is associated with aortic dilation in children.
  • Aortic complications are infrequent despite common dilation in pediatric BAV.
  • Understanding ascending aorta (AAo) elastic properties in isolated BAV is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate ascending aorta (AAo) elastic properties in children with isolated bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).
  • To determine the relationship between AAo elastic properties and AAo size in pediatric BAV.
  • To compare elastic properties between children with BAV and healthy controls with tricuspid aortic valves (TAV).

Main Methods:

  • Studied 24 children with isolated BAV and 24 healthy TAV controls, matched for age, gender, and body surface area (BSA).
  • Derived aortic strain (AS), aortic distensibility (DIS), and aortic stiffness index (SI) from M-mode echocardiography and blood pressure.
  • Compared BAV children with dilated AAo (z score ≥ 2) versus non-dilated AAo (z score < 2).

Main Results:

  • Children with BAV exhibited larger AAo dimensions compared to controls (p<0.05).
  • BAV group showed significantly lower AS (10.15 ± 4.93%) and DIS (8.51 ± 3.90%), and higher SI (7.19 ± 4.45) versus controls (AS: 16.93 ± 5.17%, DIS: 14.37 ± 4.20%, SI: 4.05 ± 2.33%).
  • No significant differences in AS, DIS, or SI were found between dilated and non-dilated AAo groups in BAV children, nor were they related to BSA, age, or AAo size.

Conclusions:

  • Ascending aorta (AAo) elasticity is impaired in pediatric BAV patients without significant valve dysfunction, as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography.
  • Impaired aortic elasticity in BAV appears independent of aortic dilation.
  • Measuring aortic elasticity may aid in identifying pediatric BAV patients at higher risk for future aortic complications.
Abstract

Keywords:
Ascending aortaBicuspid aortic valveChildrenCongenital heart diseaseElasticity

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