Crawford EE, McCarthy PM, Malaisrie SC, Puthumana JJ, Robinson JD, Markl M, Liu M, Andrei AC, Guzzardi DG, Kruse J, Fedak PWM.J Clin Med. 2020 May 5;9(5):E1354. doi: 10.3390/jcm9051354.PMID: 32380775 Free article.
Abstract
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital heart diagnosis and is associated with aortopathy. Current guidelines for aortic resection have been validated but are based on aortic diameter, which is insufficient to predict acute aortic events. Clinical and translational collaboration is necessary to identify biomarkers that can individualize the timing of prophylactic surgery for BAV aortopathy. We describe our multidisciplinary BAV program, including research protocols aimed at biomarker discovery and results from our longitudinal clinical registry. From 2012-2018, 887 patients enrolled in our clinical BAV registry with the option to undergo four dimensional flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow CMR) and donate serum plasma or tissue samples. Of 887 patients, 388 (44%) had an elective BAV-related procedure after initial presentation, while 499 (56%) continued with medical management. Of medical patients, 44 (9%) had elective surgery after 2.3 ± 1.4 years. Surgery patients’ biobank donations include 198 (46%) aorta, 374 (86%) aortic valve, and 314 (73%) plasma samples. The 4D flow CMR was completed for 215 (50%) surgery patients and 243 (49%) medical patients. Patients with BAV aortopathy can be safely followed by a multidisciplinary team to detect indications for surgery. Paired tissue and hemodynamic analysis holds opportunity for biomarker development in BAV aortopathy.
Figure 1 Overall survival estimates in the surgical or transcatheter interventions group.
Figure 2 The 2D CINE (A) and 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) (B) in a 32-year old patient with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV, right-noncoronary (R-N) valve fusion pattern), aortic dilatation (Sinus of Valsalva/Mid Ascending Aorta diameter = 42/45 mm), moderate aortic valve stenosis (aortic valve area = 1.5 cm2). A: 2D CINE MRI during peak systole shows limited BAV opening (top) and the associated outflow jet (bottom) B: 3D streamline visualization of systolic blood flow in the thoracic aortic as assessed by 4D flow CMR and shows a marked high-velocity (red color) valve outflow jet directed toward the anterior wall of the ascending aorta (AAo). Note the formation of a complex helix flow pattern in the entire AAo. In addition, 4D flow CMR provides full volumetric coverage of the thoracic aorta and flexible retrospective quantification of peak systolic velocities at multiple locations in the thoracic aorta. LV = left ventricle, PA = pulmonary artery, DAo = descending aorta.
