High prevalence of ascending aortic dilation in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta

• Published in: Cardiology in the young 2021, Vol.31 (6), p.1-997
• Main Authors: Rinnström, Daniel, Dellborg, Mikael, Thilén, Ulf, Sörensson, Peder, Nielsen, Niels-Erik, Christersson, Christina, Johansson, Bengt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Aorta; aortic dilation; Aortic valve; Blood pressure; Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Clinical Medicine; CoA; Complications; Congenital diseases; Coronary artery disease; Coronary vessels; Dilation; Dissection; GUCH; Heart diseases; Heart valves; Hypertension; Intervention; Kardiologi; Klinisk medicin; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Patients; Population; Regression analysis; Rheumatic heart disease; Standard deviation; Variables
• ISSN: 1047-9511; 1467-1107; 1467-1107
• DOI: 10.1017/S1047951121000111

Ascending aortic dilation is a feared complication in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta, as the condition is associated with life-threatening complications such as aortic dissection and rupture. However, the data are currently limited regarding factors associated with ascending aortic dilation in these patients. From the national register of congenital heart disease, 165 adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with repaired coarctation of the aorta, and echocardiographic data on aortic dimensions, were identified (61.2% male, mean age 35.8 ± 14.5 years). Aortic dilation (aortic diameters > 2 SD above reference mean) was found in 55 (33.3%) of the 165 included patients, and was associated with manifest aortic valve disease in univariable logistic regression analysis (OR 2.44, 95% CI [1.23, 4.83]). Aortic dilation is common post-repair of coarctation of the aorta, and is associated with manifest aortic valve disease and thus indirectly with the presence of a bicuspid aortic valve. However, no association was found between aortic dilation and age or blood pressure.