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Aortic stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function in children with well-functioning bicuspid aortic valves

Constance G Weismann1, Kristin C Lombardi2, Bernhard S Grell3

  • 1Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, LLCI 302, New Haven, CT 06510, USA constance.weismann@yale.edu.

European Heart Journal. Cardiovascular Imaging
|June 16, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Children with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) show abnormal aortic elasticity and diastolic function. However, this study found no direct relationship between these aortic abnormalities and diastolic dysfunction in pediatric BAV patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) are associated with abnormal aortic stiffness and diastolic function in adults.
  • Understanding these abnormalities in children with BAV is crucial for early detection and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between aortic stiffness and left ventricular (LV) diastolic impairment in children with isolated, well-functioning BAV.
  • To compare aortic elasticity and LV diastolic function in children with BAV to healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of echocardiograms from 50 children with isolated BAV and 50 age-matched healthy controls.
  • Analysis of LV systolic and diastolic function, ascending aortic stiffness index (SI), distensibility, and strain.
  • Comparison of parameters between the BAV and control groups.

Main Results:

  • Children with BAV exhibited significantly lower LV diastolic function parameters compared to controls.
  • All measured parameters of proximal and distal ascending aortic elasticity were abnormal in the BAV group.
  • No significant correlation was found between aortic elasticity parameters and LV diastolic function.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric patients with isolated bicuspid aortic valves demonstrate impaired aortic elasticity and diastolic function, even without significant congenital heart disease.
  • Despite these co-existing abnormalities, a direct relationship between aortic elasticity and diastolic function could not be established in this pediatric cohort.
Abstract

Keywords:
Aortic stiffnessBicuspid aortic valveLeft ventricular diastolic functionTissue Doppler echocardiographyVascular–ventricular interaction

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