Abstract 2658: Does Aortic Valve Morphology Influence The Natural History Of Aortic Regurgitation?

Abstract

BACKROUND: The influence of the morphology of aortic valve on the natural history of aortic regurgitation (AR) is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To assess the natural history of AR in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) comparing with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety-five patients with asymptomatic severe chronic AR were prospectively studied. Follow-up period was 7+/- 2 years. Forty-one patients (42%) had BAV and were significantly younger than patients with TAV (39 +/- 11 vs 47 +/- 14 years, p=0.001). Mean ascending aortic diameter (AAD) was significantly larger in BAV (42 +/- 7 vs 37 +/- 5 mm, p=0.0001). Differences in AAD persisted until the end of the follow-up (47 +/- 6 vs 40 +/-5 mm, p=0.0001). The percentatge of increase in AAD was 12 +/- 5% in BAV and 8 +/- 5% in TAV with yearly increase of 0.83 mm in BAV and 0.42 mm in TAV. The changes in left ventricle diameters, mass index, wall stress, regurgitant fraction and ejection fraction were similar in BAV and TAV. Patients with BAV did not need surgery earlier due to AR than patients with TAV (4.7 +/- 2 vs 4.8 +/- 3 years). At 5 years follow-up 11 patients with BAV (27%) and 10 patients with TAV (23%) needed surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BAV are younger, had a larger AAD and a higher rate of AAD enlargement than patients with TAV. The morphology of the aortic valve (BAV vs TAV) had no infuence in the progression of AR and the impact on left ventricular function.