Progression of Aortic Dilation in Children With a Functionally Normal Bicuspid Aortic Valve

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology 2006-09, Vol.98 (6), p.828-830
• Main Authors: Beroukhim, Rebecca S., Kruzick, Tracy L., Taylor, Amy L., Gao, Dexiang, Yetman, Anji T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aorta - diagnostic imaging; Aorta - pathology; Aortic Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Diseases - pathology; Aortic Valve - abnormalities; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Child; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Congenital heart diseases. Malformations of the aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava; Coronary vessels; Dilatation, Pathologic; Disease Progression; Echocardiography, Doppler; Endocardial and cardiac valvular diseases; Female; Heart; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2006.04.022

Adults with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) are at risk for progressive aortic dilation independent of valve function. The evolution of aortic dilation in children with functionally normal BAVs has not been studied. In this study, ascending aortic diameters were assessed in a group of children with functionally normal BAVs (peak gradient ≤16 mm Hg) to determine whether progressive dilation occurs during childhood. A cohort of 101 patients and 97 controls were studied with echocardiography. There were no differences in mean age (9.0 ± 4.8 vs 8.7 ± 6.1 years, p = 0.7) or body surface area (1.1 ± 0.4 vs 1.1 ± 0.5 m 2, p = 0.9). Patients had significantly greater aortic dimensions than controls in all measured regions of the aorta, with the most striking discrepancy in the ascending aorta (2.3 ± 0.6 vs 1.8 ± 0.5 cm, p