Clinical and haemodynamic features in relation to severity of aortic stenosis in adults

Abstract

The main symptoms of aortic stenosis (AS), angina pectoris, dyspnoea, and syncope/effort dizziness, are thought to reflect the severity of AS. This assumption is based on studies in relatively young patients, and may not apply to older age groups. Thus, in 100 consecutive adults (age 41-79 years) referred to cardiac catheterization with suspected AS, clinical and haemodynamic variables were assessed in relation to significant (less than or equal to 0.50 cm2 m-2) (n = 70) and nonsignificant AS (n = 30), and to symptoms. Prevalence of symptoms, functional class, and systolic murmur grade greater than or equal to 3, was similar in the groups. However, patients with significant AS more often had an abnormal second heart sound, electrocardiographic left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with strain, severe echocardiographic aortic valve calcification, and increased LV wall thickness. Multivariate analysis identified an abnormal second heart sound, and aortic calcification grade, as independent predictors of significant AS. When the Doppler mean gradient was added to the analysis, it became the best predictor. Angina pectoris (n = 74) was related to coronary artery disease, but not to severity of AS. However, 31% of patients without angina also had coronary artery disease. Dyspnoea (n = 69) was only related to age, and syncope/effort dizziness (n = 26) was more frequent in women. Functional class grade was not related to severity of AS. Thus, in adults with assumed symptomatic AS, clinical symptoms do not predict severity of AS. Therefore, the decision for valve replacement should rely on Doppler assessment of the severity of AS. Furthermore, in adults with AS, coronary artery disease cannot be excluded without selective coronary angiography.