Abstract
We investigated the prevalence and significance of aortic valve early systolic partial closure (notching) in congestive cardiomyopathy by reviewing clinical and M-mode echocardiographic findings in 33 patients. We also compared their echocardiographic aortic root and valve findings to those in 17 aortic regurgitation patients and 24 normal subjects. Thirteen cardiomyopathy patients (39%) exhibited aortic valve partial closure—similar to the prevalence in the aortic regurgitation (41%) and normal (33%) groups. However, patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and aortic valve notching exhibited a higher mean percentage of partial closure (18% ± 10) than those with notching in either the aortic regurgitation (8% ± 9) or normal (5% ± 2) group. There was no significant difference in age, body surface area, left ventricular dimension, systolic function, or presence of mitral regurgitation between cardiomyopathy patients with and without aortic valve notching, but the former had slightly greater aortic root dimensions and maximal aortic leaflet separation. Although the reason for this difference is unknown, a wider aortic root may result in low-pressure areas bordering the aortic flow stream during early systole, which may favor partial aortic valve closure.
Published Version
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