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Santangelo G, Tumminello G, Barbieri L, Mallardi GPF, Faggiano A, Moscardelli S, Rossi A, Cozza F, Carugo S, Faggiano P. Unraveling the Enigma of Moderate Aortic Stenosis: Challenges and Future Prospects. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3478. [PMID: 38930005 PMCID: PMC11204855 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
According to current guidelines, only clinical surveillance is recommended for patients with moderate aortic valve stenosis (AS), while aortic valve replacement may be considered in patients undergoing surgery for other indications. Recent studies have shown that moderate AS is associated with a high risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including death, especially in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. In this context, multimodality imaging can help to improve the accuracy of moderate AS diagnosis and to assess left ventricular remodeling response. This review discusses the natural history of this valve disease and the role of multimodality imaging in the diagnostic process, summarizes current evidence on the medical and non-medical management, and highlights ongoing trials on valve replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Santangelo
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.S.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (G.P.F.M.); (A.F.); (S.C.)
| | - Gabriele Tumminello
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.S.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (G.P.F.M.); (A.F.); (S.C.)
| | - Lucia Barbieri
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.S.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (G.P.F.M.); (A.F.); (S.C.)
| | - Giulio Pio Federico Mallardi
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.S.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (G.P.F.M.); (A.F.); (S.C.)
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Faggiano
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.S.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (G.P.F.M.); (A.F.); (S.C.)
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Moscardelli
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Health Sciences, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | | | - Fabiana Cozza
- Cardiothoracic Department Unit, Fondazione Poliambulanza, 25124 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Stefano Carugo
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases, Foundation IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.S.); (G.T.); (L.B.); (G.P.F.M.); (A.F.); (S.C.)
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Pompilio Faggiano
- Cardiothoracic Department Unit, Fondazione Poliambulanza, 25124 Brescia, Italy;
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Caprio MV, De Donno F, Bisaccia G, Mantini C, Di Baldassarre A, Gallina S, Khanji MY, Ricci F. Moderate aortic stenosis: Navigating the uncharted. Echocardiography 2024; 41:e15859. [PMID: 38853624 DOI: 10.1111/echo.15859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Aortic stenosis (AS) stands as the most common valvular heart disease in developed countries and is characterized by progressive narrowing of the aortic valve orifice resulting in elevated transvalvular flow resistance, left ventricular hypertrophy, and progressive increased risk of heart failure and sudden death. This narrative review explores clinical challenges and evolving perspectives in moderate AS, where discrepancies between aortic valve area and pressure gradient measurements may pose diagnostic and therapeutic quandaries. Transthoracic echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality for AS evaluation, yet cases of discordance may require the application of ancillary noninvasive diagnostic modalities. This review underscores the importance of accurate grading of AS severity, especially in low-gradient phenotypes, emphasizing the need for vigilant follow-up. Current clinical guidelines primarily recommend aortic valve replacement for severe AS, potentially overlooking latent risks in moderate disease stages. The noninvasive multimodality imaging approach-including echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, computed tomography, and nuclear techniques-provides unique insights into adaptive and maladaptive cardiac remodeling in AS and offers a promising avenue to deliver precise indications and exact timing for intervention in moderate AS phenotypes and asymptomatic patients, potentially improving long-term outcomes. Nevertheless, what we may have gleaned from a large amount of observational data is still insufficient to build a robust framework for clinical decision-making in moderate AS. Future research will prioritize randomized clinical trials designed to weigh the benefits and risks of preemptive aortic valve replacement in the management of moderate AS, as directed by specific imaging and nonimaging biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vittoria Caprio
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- SS Annunziata Polyclinic University Hospital, University Cardiology Division, Chieti, Italy
| | - Federica De Donno
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- SS Annunziata Polyclinic University Hospital, University Cardiology Division, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giandomenico Bisaccia
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Cesare Mantini
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Angela Di Baldassarre
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, and Reprogramming and Cell Differentiation Lab, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), G. D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Sabina Gallina
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- SS Annunziata Polyclinic University Hospital, University Cardiology Division, Chieti, Italy
| | - Mohammed Y Khanji
- Newham University Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Plaistow, London, UK
- Barts Heart Centre, Barts Health NHS Trust, West Smithfield, London, UK
- NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University, London, UK
| | - Fabrizio Ricci
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- SS Annunziata Polyclinic University Hospital, University Cardiology Division, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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González-García A, Pazos-López P, Calvo-Iglesias FE, Matajira-Chía TM, Bilbao-Quesada R, Blanco-González E, González-Ríos C, Castiñeira-Busto M, Barreiro-Pérez M, Íñiguez-Romo A. Diagnostic Challenges in Aortic Stenosis. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2024; 11:162. [PMID: 38921662 PMCID: PMC11203729 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd11060162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent degenerative valvular disease in western countries. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is considered, nowadays, to be the main imaging technique for the work-up of AS due to high availability, safety, low cost, and excellent capacity to evaluate aortic valve (AV) morphology and function. Despite the diagnosis of AS being considered straightforward for a very long time, based on high gradients and reduced aortic valve area (AVA), many patients with AS represent a real dilemma for cardiologist. On the one hand, the acoustic window may be inadequate and the TTE limited in some cases. On the other hand, a growing body of evidence shows that patients with low gradients (due to systolic dysfunction, concentric hypertrophy or coexistence of another valve disease such as mitral stenosis or regurgitation) may develop severe AS (low-flow low-gradient severe AS) with a similar or even worse prognosis. The use of complementary imaging techniques such as transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), multidetector computed tomography (MDTC), or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) plays a key role in such scenarios. The aim of this review is to summarize the diagnostic challenges associated with patients with AS and the advantages of a comprehensive multimodality cardiac imaging (MCI) approach to reach a precise grading of the disease, a crucial factor to warrant an adequate management of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- André González-García
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Alvaro Cunqueiro, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, 36312 Vigo, Spain; (F.E.C.-I.); (T.M.M.-C.); (R.B.-Q.); (E.B.-G.); (C.G.-R.); (M.C.-B.); (M.B.-P.); (A.Í.-R.)
| | - Pablo Pazos-López
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Alvaro Cunqueiro, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, 36312 Vigo, Spain; (F.E.C.-I.); (T.M.M.-C.); (R.B.-Q.); (E.B.-G.); (C.G.-R.); (M.C.-B.); (M.B.-P.); (A.Í.-R.)
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O'Sullivan CJ, O'Sullivan D. Discordant High-Gradient Aortic Stenosis: Trust the Gradient. J Am Coll Cardiol 2024; 83:1120-1122. [PMID: 38508843 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
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