Congenital heart diseaseProgression of Aortic Dilation in Children With a Functionally Normal Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Section snippets
Methods and Results
An institutional review board–approved echocardiographic and clinical analysis of children with isolated BAVs and healthy controls was undertaken. Patients with isolated BAVs were those with no greater than trivial aortic insufficiency and peak transvalvar aortic gradients of ≤16 mm Hg. Our aim was to determine whether a functionally normal BAV is a benign lesion or whether such patients require more frequent follow-up because of aortic disease progression early in life. Patients and controls
Discussion
Although aneurysmal aortic dilation has been documented in adults with isolated BAVs,5 this study supports the postulate that BAV is a disease of the entire aorta, with an associated aortopathy present from birth.6 In the absence of even minor hemodynamic alterations, we have shown aortic dilation to be present and progressive throughout childhood in patients with BAVs.
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