Pulmonary artery and right ventricle function in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.

Objective: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a complex developmental anomaly caused by abnormal aortic leaflet formation during valvulogenesis. The present study is an assessment of the effects of BAV disease on the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery (PA), and an evaluation of the consequences for systolic and diastolic functioning of the left and right ventricles.

Methods: Total of 66 patients were eligible for inclusion. Pulmonary artery maximum diameter (PAD) was obtained 1 cm distal to the pulmonary annulus. Using pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging, left ventricular (LV) early diastolic velocity (E') measurement was obtained at the annulus with placement of sample volume. Right ventricle (RV) peak global strain rate during systole (RV-SRS), early diastole (RV-SRE), and late diastole (RV-SRA) were calculated.

Results: In this study, 40.9% (n=27) of patients were female and average age was 35±11years. RV-SRS values (ß=-.781, t=-2.723; p=0.010) and log-LV tissue Doppler imaging E' (ß=-2.996, t=-5.405; p=<0.001) were negatively correlated, and log-PAD (ß=4.861, t=3.052; p=0.005) was positively and independently correlated with ascending aortic diameter.

Conclusion: Ascending aorta diameter is positively correlated with PA diameter in BAV patients, and RV strain rate and LV diastolic parameters are affected before development of the valve disease.