1024-81 Aortic Dilation in Young Males with Isolated Normally Functioning Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Abstract

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital disorder frequently coexisting with abnormalities of the aortic arch including aortic coarctation, dissecting aneurysm and aortic root dilation: it has been suggested that these associations result from a common developmental defect. Moreover, aortic root dimensions are influenced by age and body size; thus, in order to test the hypothesis of a common congenital disorder underlying BAV and aortic dilation, we prospectively studied young males with isolated, normally functioning bicuspid aortic valve during the medical examinations for the military service, in comparison with a age-matched group with no cardiovascular abnormalities. Sixty-three patients (aged 17.8 ± 0.6 year, range 17-19) whose echocardiograms showed a normally functioning BAV were studied at the Military Hospital in Verona by 2D echocardiography with PW, CW and Color Doppler. Seventy subjects, comparable for age (17.82 ± 0.7, range 17-19) and body surface area (1.79 ± 0.09 vs 1.82 ± 0.08, respectively) without clinical and echocardiographic evidence of cardiac abnormalities, were used as control group. Aortic root dimensions were measured by 2D-echocardiography at four levels: 1) anulus, 2) sinuses on Valsalva, 3) supraaortic ridge and 4) proximal ascending aorta. Results (mean ± SD): Level BAV Normals p Anulus 2.36 ± 0.31 2.27 ± 0.29 NS Sinuses of Valsalva 3.16 ± 0.38 2.90 ± 0.32 <0.01 Supraaortic ridge 2.64 ± 0.46 2.50 ± 0.28 0.03 Proximal Ascending Aorta 3.12 ± 0.48 2.71 ± 0.29 <0.01 Aortic root dimensions are significantly greater in young men with normally functioning BAV than in control subjects comparable for gender, age and body size. Noticeably, the aortic root dimensions in patients with BAV are still within the range of normality. These data confirm the hypothesis that BAV and aortic dilation are expression of a common developmental defect.