Relevance of residual left ventricular hypertrophy after surgery for isolated aortic stenosis

Persistent left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy after surgery is frequent, but its clinical relevance is controversial. We evaluated if residual LV hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with clinical outcomes after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe aortic stenosis (AS).

We analysed clinical and echocardiographic parameters before and after AVR, in a prospective cohort of 132 patients with severe AS. The mean follow-up was 6.0 ± 1.5 years. Clinical endpoints were all-cause death and combination of as in all-cause death and non-fatal cardiovascular hospitalization. At AVR, myocardial biopsies for collagen volume fraction (CVF) evaluation were done in 56 random patients.

Residual LVH was present in 44% of patients after AVR. Patients with residual LVH were older, more frequently women and had hypertension (HT). Preoperatively, they had higher LV mass indices (LVMI), higher E/e' and left atrial volume indices, as well as lower peak systolic annular velocity. Female gender, HT, LVMI and E/e' were independent predictors of persistent LVH. CVF at the time of surgery was higher in those with residual LVH (20.0 ± 14.6 vs 13.2 ± 11.5%, P = 0.027). The risk of all-cause death and non-fatal cardiovascular hospitalization was higher in patients with residual LVH [OR 2.89 (95% CI 1.12-7.44); P = 0.035], but there were no differences in all-cause mortality. Residual LVH was associated with a worse outcome in women but not in men.

Residual LVH after AVR is common and is associated with worse prognosis, particularly in women. In addition, HT, higher baseline LVM and worse diastolic dysfunction can help to identify patients at risk for incomplete normalization of LVM.