Etiology impacts survival in patients with severe aortic regurgitation: results from a cohort of 756 patients.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Severe aortic regurgitation (AR) is caused by a variety of mechanisms, which include the degenerative process, bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), aortic root dilation, endocarditis or a combination of these. Their frequency in a contemporary clinical series, and their impact on survival, are currently unknown.

Methods: The authors' echocardiographic database between 1993 and 2007 was screened for patients with severe AR, and yielded 756 patients.

Survival in patients with severe aortic regurgitation and severe left ventricular dysfunction is improved by aortic valve replacement: results from a cohort of 166 patients with an ejection fraction < or =35%.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction entails a higher surgical risk. Though it may improve symptoms and LV size, it is not known whether it translates into a survival benefit.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study included patients screened from our echocardiographic database between 1993 and 2007 for patients with severe AR and LV ejection fraction (EF) < or =35%.

Risk factors for progression of calcific aortic stenosis and potential therapeutic targets.

Current thought regarding the progression of calcific aortic stenosis (AS) is presented. After summarizing contemporary ideas about AS pathogenesis, the present article examines the factors that may affect disease progression. Data indicate that this process may be accelerated by aortic valve structure, degree of valvular calcification, chronic renal insufficiency and cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes and dyslipidemia.