Short-term adverse remodeling progression in asymptomatic aortic stenosis

Abstract Objectives Aortic stenosis (AS) is characterised by a long and variable asymptomatic course. Our objective was to use cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess progression of adverse remodeling in asymptomatic AS. Methods Participants from the PRIMID-AS study, a prospective, multi-centre observational study of asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe AS, who remained asymptomatic at 12 months, were invited to undergo a repeat cardiac MRI. Results Forty-three participants with moderate-severe AS (mean age 64.4 ± 14.8 years, 83.4% male, aortic valve area index 0.54 ± 0.15 cm2/m2) were included. There was small but significant increase in indexed left ventricular (LV) (90.7 ± 22.0 to 94.5 ± 23.1 ml/m2, p = 0.007) and left atrial volumes (52.9 ± 11.3 to 58.6 ± 13.6 ml/m2, p < 0.001), with a decrease in systolic (LV ejection fraction 57.9 ± 4.6 to 55.6 ± 4.1%, p = 0.001) and diastolic (longitudinal diastolic strain rate 1.06 ± 0.2 to 0.99 ± 0.2 1/s, p = 0.026) function, but no overall change in LV mass or mass/volume. Late gadolinium enhancement increased (2.02 to 4.26 g, p < 0.001) but markers of diffuse interstitial fibrosis did not change significantly (extracellular volume index 12.9 [11.4, 17.0] ml/m2 to 13.3 [11.1, 15.1] ml/m2, p = 0.689). There was also a significant increase in the levels of NT-proBNP (43.6 [13.45, 137.08] pg/ml to 53.4 [19.14, 202.20] pg/ml, p = 0.001). Conclusions There is progression in cardiac remodeling with increasing scar burden even in asymptomatic AS. Given the lack of reversibility of LGE post-AVR and its association with long-term mortality post-AVR, this suggests the potential need for earlier intervention, before the accumulation of LGE, to improve the long-term outcomes in AS. Key Points • Current guidelines recommend waiting until symptom onset before valve replacement in severe AS. • MRI showed clear progression in cardiac remodeling over 12 months in asymptomatic patients with AS, with near doubling in LGE. • This highlights the need for potentially earlier intervention or better risk stratification in AS.

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P1370 Correlation of aortic stenosis by integrated transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography with calcium score

European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1093/ehjci/jez319.805 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

S Schwartzenberg ◽

Y Shapira ◽

M Vaturi ◽

M Nassar ◽

A Hamdan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Stroke Volume Index ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Low Flow ◽

Volume Index ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Aortic Valve Area ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Coronary Ct

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None BACKGROUND Aortic stenosis (AS) classification depends on left-ventricular ejection-fraction (LVEF <≥50%), aortic valve area (AVA<≥1cm2), mean pressure gradient (MG<≥40mmHg), peak velocity<≥400 cm/sec, and stroke-volume index (SVI<≥35ml/m2). Aortic Valve Agatston CT score (AVC) correlates with AS severity by trans-thoracic echo (TTE), but its association with AS severity determined by integrated TTE and TEE is unknown. PURPOSE We investigated correlation of AVC with dichotomous AS grouping by Integrated TTE + TEE vs TTE only. METHODS 64 TAVI candidates underwent sequential TTE and TEE, of which 24 underwent coronary CT within 4 months. Based on recommended conservative vs invasive treatment implication (A/B respectively), AS types were aggregated separately by TTE or Integrated TTE-TEE into two groups: Group-A (Moderate AS and Normal-Flow Low-Gradient), and Group-B (High-Gradient, Low-EF Low-Flow Low-Gradient, and Paradoxical Low-Flow Low-Gradient). Continuous and dichotomous AVC correlation (cutoffs based on guidelines) with echo binary classification was then determined. RESULTS Patients were 81.1(77.3-84.6) years old, 18(48.6%) were women, and had LVEF of 60% (49-65). AVC-score distribution in the two AS A/B Groups by two echo modalities is presented in the boxplot Figure. Only classification by TTE held discriminative accuracy in A/B grouping, with Area-Under-Curve of 0.736 (CI 0.57-0.9), and optimal threshold value of 1946 AU having 77% sensitivity and 74% specificity. Compared with AVC dichotomous classification, integrated TTE + TEE upgraded AS class (from A to B) in 5/6 (83.3%) patients vs 12/18 (66.7%) in which it downgraded AS class from B to A. CONCLUSIONS Aortic valve calcification correlates well with AS class dichotomized by operative implication through conventional TTE but not through integrated TTE + TEE. Our preliminary results appear to be caused by initial selection bias of patients in whom coronary CT performance was deemed to be justified by the treating physician rather than reflect a true better correlation between CT score and AS assessment by TTE vs by integrated TTE + TEE. Abstract P1370 Figure.

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End-systolic wall stress in aortic stenosis: comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic patients

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2019-001021 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e001021 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rasmus Carter-Storch ◽

Jacob Eifer Moller ◽

Nicolaj Lyhne Christensen ◽

Lars Melholt Rasmussen ◽

Redi Pecini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Wall Thickness ◽

Global Longitudinal Strain ◽

Wall Stress ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Volume Index ◽

Aortic Valve Area ◽

The Impact ◽

Systolic Wall Stress

AimsIn aortic stenosis (AS), there is poor association between symptoms and conventional markers of AS severity or left ventricular (LV) systolic function. This may reflect that symptoms arise from LV diastolic dysfunction or that aortic valve area (AVA) and transvalvular gradient do not reflect afterload. We aimed to study the impact of afterload (end-systolic wall stress [ESWS]) on the presence of symptoms in AS and to test whether symptoms are related to increased ESWS or LV remodelling.Methods and resultsIn a prospective study, ESWS was estimated by measuring LV wall thickness from MRI and estimated LV end systolic pressure from echocardiographic mean gradient and systolic blood pressure in 78 patients with severe AS scheduled for aortic valve replacement and 91 patients with asymptomatic severe AS. Symptomatic patients had lower indexed AVA (0.40±0.11 vs 0.45±0.09 cm2/m2, p=0.009). They had undergone more extensive remodelling (MRI LV mass index [LVMi]: 85±24 vs 69±17 g/m2, p<0.0001), had higher tricuspid regurgitant gradient (24±8 mm Hg vs 19 ± 7 mm Hg, p=0.0001) and poorer global longitudinal strain (−15.6±3.8 vs −19.9±3.2%, p<0.0001). ESWS was higher among symptomatic patients (96±51 vs 76±25 kdynes/cm2, p=0.003). Multivariate logistic regression identified echocardiographic relative wall thickness, tricuspid gradient, mitral deceleration time, early diastolic strain rate, MRI LVMi, MRI LV end-diastolic volume index and ESWS as independently associated with being symptomatic.ConclusionESWS can be estimated from multimodality imaging combining MRI and echocardiography. It is correlated with LV remodelling and neurohormonal activation and is independently associated with symptomatic status in AS.

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Use of passive leg rise as an add-on to dobutamine in patients with paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.0120 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

E Buffle ◽

A Papadis ◽

C Seiler ◽

S F De Marchi

Keyword(s):

Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Stroke Volume Index ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Low Flow ◽

Volume Index ◽

Aortic Valve Area ◽

Low Ejection Fraction ◽

Valve Area

Abstract Background Dobutamine has been proposed for the assessment of low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis (LFLGAS). However, in 1/3 of patients, no increase in stroke volume index can be achieved by Dobutamine, thus hampering its diagnostic value. This study evaluated the manoeuvre of cardiac preload augmentation by passive leg rise (PLR) alone or on top of Dobutamine to increase stroke volume index (SVI) in patients with LFLGAS, particularly in paradoxical LFLGAS. Methods We examined 50 patients with LFLGAS. Patients were assigned to the paradoxical LFLGAS (Paradox) group if left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was ≥50% (n=29) and to the LFLGAS with low ejection fraction (LEF) group if LVEF was <50% (n=21). A modified Dobutamine stress echocardiography was performed in all patients with the following 4 steps: Rest, PLR alone, maximal Dobutamine infusion rate alone (Dmax) and Dobutamine plus PLR (Dmax + PLR). Three SVI measurement methods were used: first the left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT VTI) method, second the 2D Simpson's method, and third the 3D method. The corresponding aortic valve area (AVA) was obtained by the continuity equation. The increase of those values compared to measurements at rest was calculated and compared between the 3 stress steps. Results In the paradoxical LFLGAS group, delta SVI with Dmax assessed by both Simpson's (depicted in the figures) and 3D method was lowest compared to PLR and Dmax + PLR. PLR alone yielded an equally high delta SVI as Dmax + PLR in Simpson's and 3D, and was at least as high as Dmax across all methods. Dobutamine alone yielded the lowest delta transaortic aortic valve VTI. The highest delta aortic valve area resulted for Dmax + PLR. In the LEF group, the three stress steps yielded an equally high delta SVI with Simpson's method. Dmax never yielded a higher delta SVI than PLR alone. The yielded delta SVI was the highest for Dmax + PLR for both LVOT VTI and 3d method, although the difference was overall not as strong as in the Paradox group. Conclusions In patients with paradoxical LFLGAS, Dobutamine alone is inadequate for testing the potential of aortic valve opening augmentation. Instead, PLR alone or the addition of PLR plus Dobutamine should be used for that purpose. In low LVEF, adding PLR to Dobutamine also seems useful although its diagnostic added value is less evident than in the Paradox group. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Rhyner-Foundation Paradox group Low ejection fraction group

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229 Long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcome following TAVR in patients with severe aortic stenosis and different transvalvular flow state

European Heart Journal Supplements ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/suab147.008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽

Author(s):

Laura Fusini ◽

Manuela Muratori ◽

Gloria Tamborini ◽

Sarah Ghulam Ali ◽

Paola Gripari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Severe Aortic Stenosis ◽

Low Flow ◽

Volume Index ◽

Aortic Valve Area ◽

Flow State ◽

Flow Gradient

Abstract Aims Haemodynamic classifications of severe aortic stenosis (AS) have important prognostic implications, with low flow state (defined on the basis of a stroke volume index, SVi<35 mL/m2) known to be a predictor of worse prognosis. As transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become widely used for patients with severe AS, issues were raised concerning its efficacy in patients with different haemodynamic classifications combining transvalvular flow state and pressure gradients. In fact, data on TAVR outcomes in patients with low gradient (LG) AS are limited and in some cases controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcome of TAVR in patients with different transvalvular flow-gradient patterns. Methods In this single centre study, 1078 patients (mean age 81±7 years) with severe symptomatic AS (AVA<1 cm2) undergoing TAVR were categorized according to flow-gradient patterns as follow: 867 patients (80%) with normal flow-high gradient (NF-HG: mean transaortic gradient DP mean>40 mmHg), 94 (9%) with paradoxical low flow LG (pLF-LG: DP mean<40 mmHg, ejection fraction EF > 50%, and SVi<35 mL/m2), and 117 (11%) classical LF-LG (DP mean<40 mmHg, EF < 50%, SVi<35 mL/m2). Results TAVR was feasible in all AS subtypes with similar rate of unsuccessful procedure (1.3% NF-HG, 1.1% pLF-LG, 0% LF-LG P=470). Valvular function after TAVR was excellent over time with respect to aortic pressure gradient (mean and peak) and aortic valve area regardless of flow state group (Figure A). Overall, intraoperative (P=957) and 30-day mortality (P=817) did not differ significantly among the 3 groups. Longer follow-up showed that, compared to NF-HG patients, pLF-LG had similar all-cause mortality rate [HR 1.35(0.95–1.90), P=0.094] up to 5 years and LF-LG had a significant higher mortality rate [HR 1.89(1.43–2.49), P<0.001],(Figure B). Moreover, LF-LG patients had higher rehospitalization for heart failure (NF-HG: 3%, pLF-LG: 6%, LF-LG 10%, P=0.001). Conclusions We provided evidence that TAVR is an effective procedure in all patients with severe AS regardless of transvalvular flow-gradient patterns. A careful haemodynamic classifications of severe AS is of utmost importance for identifying patients who benefits the most from TAVR procedure.

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Left atrial dynamics in the hemodynamic response during exercise in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.1671 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

T Sugimoto ◽

F Bandera ◽

G Generati ◽

E Alfonzetti ◽

M Guazzi

Keyword(s):

Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Left Atrial ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Low Flow ◽

Volume Index ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Aortic Valve Area ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Abstract Background The hemodynamic impact of left atrial (LA) dynamics in aortic stenosis (AS) in relation to cardiopulmonary response to exercise has never been studied. We aimed at investigating the link between LA function vs hemodynamics and prognosis in asymptomatic severe AS patients. Methods A total of 106 patients: 76 asymptomatic severe AS patients (aortic valve area (AVA) <1.0 cm2 or AVA index <0.6 cm2/m2) and 30 gender-matched control subjects underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing combined with Echo-Doppler with assessment of LA strain. AS patients were divided into 4 groups according to peak aortic jet velocity (PV), mean pressure gradient (MPG), stroke volume index (SVI), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results Normal-flow low-gradient AS (NFLG: PV <4 m/s and MPG <40 mmHg, SVI >35ml/m2, LVEF ≥50%, N=23), High-gradient AS (HG: PV ≥4 m/s or MPG ≥40 mmHg, LVEF ≥50%, N=23), Paradoxical low-flow low-gradient AS (PLFLG: PV <4 m/s and MPG <40 mmHg, SVI ≤35ml/m2, LVEF ≥50%, N=18), and Classical low-flow AS (CLF: LVEF <50%, N=12) had a higher LA volume index than Control (Control 22±6, NFLG 38±12*, HG 33±9*, PLFLG 33±11*, and CLF 49±15* ml/m2, *P<0.05 vs Control). In PLFLG and NFLG AS, LA strain at rest (21±9 and 26±13%) and during exercise (26±12 and 31±14%) were decreased compared to Control (37±8% at rest, 43±11% during exercise) but LA strain was increased from rest to exercise (P<0.001). HG and CLF AS had no increase in LA strain (31±15 and 19±10% at rest, 28±15 and 18±9% during exercise) (figure). In Cox proportional hazards analysis, age and gender adjusted hazard ratio for the composite end point (aortic valve replacement, hospitalization for heart failure, and all-cause mortality) of changes in LA-strain from rest to exercise (1% increase) was 1.05 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.09, P=0.044) among AS patients. Conclusions In asymptomatic severe AS, the study of LA functional adaptation to exercise plays a key role in the hemodynamic unfavorable cascade signaling major adaptive differences in dynamics during physical challenge. Overall, LA dynamics provides prognostic information also in AS patients. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

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Effects of patient characteristics and comorbidities on temporal trends of low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis phenotypes

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.1890 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

J Sen ◽

T Manning ◽

K Innes-Jones ◽

C Neil ◽

T.H Marwick

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Low Flow ◽

Volume Index ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Aortic Valve Area ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common primary heart valve disease in the elderly. Low-flow, low-gradient (LFLG) AS is an increasingly important phenotype. Purpose To evaluate the temporal changes in incidence of severe AS phenotypes: paradoxical LFLG, classical LFLG and non-LFLG and explore risk factors that contribute to temporal trends. Methods We analyzed 25,507 consecutive transthoracic echocardiograms over 6½ years between 2013 and 2019 divided into deciles. LFLG-AS was defined as mean transvalvular pressure gradient <40 mmHg and stroke volume index (SVi) <35 mL/m2, aortic valve area (AVA) <1 cm2 or indexed AVA <0.6 cm2/m2, with either normal (paradoxical LFLG) or decreased (<40%; classical LFLG) left ventricular ejection fraction. Trends and associations with patients characteristics and comorbidities were assessed over time in deciles. Results Of 891 cases that fulfilled severe AS criteria, there were 536 cases of LFLG-AS (85 classical and 451 paradoxical LFLG-AS). There was a statistically significant increase in incidence of paradoxical LFLG-AS between each time interval (p<0.0001), while significant reduction in incidence of non-LFLG-AS (p=0.009) that was not seen with classical LFLG-AS (p=0.7) (Figure). More comprehensive echocardiographic assessment of relevant parameters over time assisted with identification of LFLG-AS cases. Intrinsic patient factors such as age and E/e' contributed towards the increasing trend of paradoxical LFLG-AS. There was a rising population aged over 70 years (p=0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, sex, E/e', obesity, atrial fibrillation and heart rate were potential risk factors responsible for temporal trend towards rising paradoxical LFLG-AS incidence. There was also a gradual increase in number of patients with low transvalvular flow rate (<200mL/s) over time (p=0.04). Conclusion The incidence of paradoxical LFLG-AS is rising in a hospital echocardiogram service. The parallel increase in LV filling pressure and age in AS patients suggests the increment in LFLG-AS is related to changes to the LV myocardium. Subtypes of aortic stenosis over time Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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Inconsistency in aortic stenosis severity between CT and echocardiography: prevalence and insights into mechanistic differences using computational fluid dynamics

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2019-001044 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. e001044 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tarun Kumar Mittal ◽

Luise Reichmuth ◽

Sanjeev Bhattacharyya ◽

Manish Jain ◽

Aigul Baltabaeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fluid Dynamics ◽

Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Cfd Simulation ◽

Stroke Volume Index ◽

Ventricular Outflow Tract ◽

Velocity Profiles ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Volume Index ◽

Aortic Valve Area

ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to evaluate the inconsistency of aortic stenosis (AS) severity between CT aortic valve area (CT-AVA) and echocardiographic Doppler parameters, and to investigate potential underlying mechanisms using computational fluid dynamics (CFD).MethodsA total of 450 consecutive eligible patients undergoing transcatheter AV implantation assessment underwent CT cardiac angiography (CTCA) following echocardiography. CT-AVA derived by direct planimetry and echocardiographic parameters were used to assess severity. CFD simulation was performed in 46 CTCA cases to evaluate velocity profiles.ResultsA CT-AVA>1 cm2 was present in 23% of patients with echocardiographic peak velocity≥4 m/s (r=−0.33) and in 15% patients with mean Doppler gradient≥40 mm Hg (r=−0.39). Patients with inconsistent severity grading between CT and echocardiography had higher stroke volume index (43 vs 38 mL/m2, p<0.003) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) flow rate (235 vs 192 cm3/s, p<0.001). CFD simulation revealed high flow, either in isolation (p=0.01), or when associated with a skewed velocity profile (p=0.007), as the main cause for inconsistency between CT and echocardiography.ConclusionSevere AS by Doppler criteria may be associated with a CT-AVA>1 cm2 in up to a quarter of patients. CFD demonstrates that haemodynamic severity may be exaggerated on Doppler analysis due to high LVOT flow rates, with or without skewed velocity profiles, across the valve orifice. These factors should be considered before making a firm diagnosis of severe AS and evaluation with CT can be helpful.

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Left ventricular mechanical dispersion in flow-gradient patterns of severe aortic stenosis

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.0099 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

D Lavall ◽

L.K Kuprat ◽

J Kandels ◽

S Stoebe ◽

A Hagendorff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Longitudinal Strain ◽

Severe Aortic Stenosis ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Low Flow ◽

Volume Index ◽

Aortic Valve Area ◽

Mechanical Dispersion ◽

Flow Gradient ◽

Valve Area

Abstract Purpose Patients with severe aortic stenosis are classified according to flow-gradient patterns. We investigated whether left ventricular (LV) mechanical dispersion, a marker of dyssynchrony and predictor of mortality, is associated with low-flow status in aortic stenosis. Methods and results 400 consecutive patients with QRS duration <120ms were included in the retrospective analysis. Patients with severe aortic stenosis (aortic valve area ≤1.0cm2) were classified as normal-flow (NF; stroke volume index >35ml/m2) high-gradient (HG; mean transvalvular gradient ≥40mmHg) (n=79), NF low-gradient (LG) (n=62), low-flow (LF) LG ejection fraction (EF) ≥50% (n=57), and LF LG EF<50% (n=23). Patients with moderate aortic stenosis (aortic valve area 1.5–1.0cm2; n=95) and patients with chronic systolic heart failure (n=84) without aortic stenosis served as comparison groups. Similar values of mechanical dispersion (calculated as standard deviation of time from Q/S onset on electrocardiogram to peak longitudinal strain in 17 left ventricular segments) was observed in patients with NF HG (49.4±14.7ms), NF LG (43.5±12.9ms), LF LG EF≥50% (47.2±16.3ms) and moderate aortic stenosis (44.2±15.7ms). Mechanical dispersion was increased in patients with LF LG EF<50% (60.8±20.7ms) and in chronic heart failure (59.4±16.7ms) (p<0.05 for both vs. NF HG‡, NF LG†, LF LG EF≥50%§ and moderate*; Figure). Mechanical dispersion correlated with LV end-systolic volume index (r=0.2530, p<0.0001), LVEF (r=−0.2895, p<0.0001) and global longitudinal strain (r=0.3108, p<0.0001), but not with parameters of aortic stenosis. Conclusion Mechanical dispersion was similar among flow-gradient subgroups of severe aortic stenosis with preserved LVEF, but increased in patients with low-flow low-gradient and reduced LVEF. These findings indicate that mechanical dispersion is rather a marker of systolic myocardial dysfunction than of aortic stenosis. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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Abstract 12459: Is Ejection Fraction <50% the Optimal Threshold for Referral for Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis? Impact of Ejection Fraction on Post-Operative Outcome

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.130.suppl_2.12459 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽

Author(s):

Jordi S Dahl ◽

Mackram F Eleid ◽

Hector Michelena ◽

Christopher Scott ◽

Rakesh Suri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Valve Replacement ◽

Severe Aortic Stenosis ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Optimal Threshold ◽

Volume Index ◽

Asymptomatic Patients ◽

All Cause Mortality

Introduction: In asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS), left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) <50% is generally considered to be the threshold for referral for aortic valve replacement (AVR). Hypothesis: We investigated the importance of LVEF on long-term outcome after AVR in symptomatic and asymptomatic SAS patients and studied whether LVEF < 50% is the optimal threshold for referral for AVR. Methods and Results: We retrospectively identified 2017 patients with SAS (aortic valve area (AVA)<1cm2, mean aortic valve gradient ≥40 mm Hg, or indexed AVA <0.6 cm2/m2) who underwent surgical AVR from January 1995 to June 2009 at our institution. Patients were divided into 4 groups depending on preoperative LVEF (<50% in 300 (15%) patients, 50-59% in 331 (17%), 60-69% in 908 (45%), and ≥70% in 478 (24%)). The primary end-point was all-cause mortality. During follow-up of 5.3±4.4 years, 1056 (52%) died. Five-year mortality rate increased with decreasing LVEF (41% (n=106), LVEF<50%); 35% (n=98), LVEF 50-59%; 26% (n=192), LVEF 60-69%; 22% (n=90), LVEF≥70%, p<0.0001). Compared to patients with LVEF≥60%, patients with LVEF 50-59% had increased mortality (HR 1.58, p<0.001), with a similar risk increase in both symptomatic (HR=1.56, p<0.001) and asymptomatic patients (HR 1.58, p=0.006, Figure). In a Cox regression analysis corrected for standard risk factors, LV mass index, AVA, and stroke volume index, LVEF was predictive of all-cause mortality (HR=0.89 per 10%, p<0.001). When this multivariable analysis was repeated in the subset of 1333 patients with no history of coronary artery disease, LVEF was still associated with all-cause mortality (HR=0.90 per 10%, p=0.009). Conclusion: In patients with SAS undergoing AVR, patients with LVEF 50-59% have also increased mortality compared to patients with LVEF>60%, suggesting that a different LVEF threshold should be used when referring for AVR.

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Left atrial dynamics in the hemodynamic response during exercise in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis: a cardiopulmonary imaging study

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.1864 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

T Sugimoto ◽

F Bandera ◽

M Barletta ◽

E Alfonzetti ◽

M Guazzi

Keyword(s):

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Left Atrial ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing ◽

Systolic Pressure ◽

Stroke Volume Index ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Low Flow ◽

Volume Index ◽

Aortic Valve Area ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background The hemodynamic impact of left atrial (LA) dynamics in aortic stenosis (AS) in relation to cardiopulmonary response to exercise has never been studied. We aimed at investigating the link between LA function vs valvulo-arterial impedance (Zva) and right ventricular (RV)-to-pulmonary circulation (PC) coupling in asymptomatic severe AS patients. Methods A total of 94 patients: 64 asymptomatic severe AS patients (aortic valve area (AVA) <1.0 cm2 or AVA index <0.6 cm2/m2) with ejection fraction >50% and 30 gender-matched control subjects underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing combined with Echo-Doppler with assessment of LA strain and RV-to-PC coupling (tricuspid annular peak systolic excursion (TAPSE)/ pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) ratio). AS patients were divided into 3 groups according to peak aortic jet velocity (PV), mean pressure gradient (MPG) and stroke volume index (SVI). Zva was assessed using (MPG + systolic blood pressure)/ SVI ratio. Results Paradoxical low-flow low-gradient AS (PLFLG: PV <4 m/s and MPG <40 mmHg, SVI ≤35ml/m2, N=18, AVA 0.77±0.16 cm2), Normal-flow low-gradient AS (NFLG: PV <4 m/s and MPG <40 mmHg, SVI >35ml/m2, N=23, AVA 0.85±0.16 cm2) and High-gradient AS (HG: PV ≥4 m/s or MPG ≥40 mmHg, N=20, AVA 0.62±0.17 cm2) had a higher LA volume index than Control (Control 22±6, PLFLG 33±11*, NFLG 38±12* and HG 33±9* ml/m2, *P<0.05 vs Control). There was no significant difference in peak VO2 (17±5 ml/min/kg) and VE/VCO2 slope (28±3) among 3 AS groups although PLFLG had lower peak cardiac output (7.0±2.4 L/min) compared to NFLG (9.0±2.3 L/min) and HG (9.2±3.3 L/min). In PLFLG and NFLG AS, LA strain at rest (21±9 and 26±13%) and during exercise (26±12 and 31±14%) were decreased compared to Control (37±8% at rest, 43±11% during exercise) but maintained some reserve during exercise (P<0.001). HG AS had no increase in LA strain (31±15% at rest, 28±15% during exercise) (Figure A). In AS groups, no significant correlation at rest was observed between LA strain and Zva, whereas a negative correlation was observed during exercise (R=−0.4, P=0.003, Figure B). LA strain was also correlated with TAPSE/PASP at rest and exercise (R=0.44 and 0.47, P<0.01, respectively, Figure C). Conclusions In asymptomatic severe AS, the study of LA functional adaptation to exercise plays a key role in the hemodynamic unfavorable cascade from AS-related left ventricular afterload to RV-to-PC uncoupling. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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