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Hashemifard A, Fatouraee N, Nabaei M. Nature of aortic annulus: Influence of annulus dynamic on the aortic valve hemodynamics. Comput Biol Med 2024; 181:109037. [PMID: 39168015 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.109037] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Accurate imaging reports of the aortic valve indicate that the diameter of the aortic annulus changes regularly during a cardiac cycle. Most of these studies aim to demonstrate the proper method for estimating the aortic annulus diameter before performing TAVR surgery, revealing that the aortic annulus is dynamic and not constant throughout the cardiac cycle. This raises the question of how fixing the aortic annulus might affect valve function, which is a question that still needs to be addressed. Therefore, the present study seeks to address this question and elucidate the dynamic impact of the aortic annulus on aortic valve hemodynamics. Two computational models based on this hypothesis were created and solved, and then their results were compared. Both models are identical, except for the intrinsic dynamic nature of the aortic annulus. One model consists of the dynamic behavior, and the other simulates a fixed annulus, resembling the effect of a TAVR operation, SAVR, or any phenomenon that eliminates the dynamic nature of the annulus. Our research findings indicate that the dynamic nature of the annulus enhances blood flow (+2.7 %), increases mean velocity (+11.9) and kinetic energy density (+34 %), prolongs momentum retention during systole, stabilizes the flow jet at the end of systole, reduces the required pressure to keep the leaflets open (-40.9 % at 0.3s), and sustains ventricular pressure superiority (+9.4 %) over the aorta for a longer duration (+17.7 % of systole), a crucial factor in preventing backflow during aortic valve closure. Based on these results, more attention should be paid to the dynamic nature of the annulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Hashemifard
- Biological Fluid Dynamics Research Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Department, َAmirkabir University of Technology, 350 Hafez Ave, Valiasr Square, P.O.Box 159163-4311, Tehran, 1591634311, Iran(1)
| | - Nasser Fatouraee
- Biological Fluid Dynamics Research Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Department, َAmirkabir University of Technology, 350 Hafez Ave, Valiasr Square, P.O.Box 159163-4311, Tehran, 1591634311, Iran(1).
| | - Malikeh Nabaei
- Biological Fluid Dynamics Research Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Department, َAmirkabir University of Technology, 350 Hafez Ave, Valiasr Square, P.O.Box 159163-4311, Tehran, 1591634311, Iran(1)
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Schulz A, Beuthner BE, Böttiger ZM, Gersch SS, Lange T, Gronwald J, Evertz R, Backhaus SJ, Kowallick JT, Hasenfuß G, Schuster A. Epicardial adipose tissue as an independent predictor of long-term outcome in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Clin Res Cardiol 2024:10.1007/s00392-024-02387-5. [PMID: 38324040 DOI: 10.1007/s00392-024-02387-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate risk stratification is important to improve patient selection and outcome of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). As epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is discussed to be involved in cardiovascular disease, it could be useful as a marker of poor prognosis in patients with severe AS undergoing TAVR. METHODS A total of 416 patients diagnosed with severe AS by transthoracic echocardiography were assigned for TAVR and enrolled for systematic assessment. Patients underwent clinical surveys and 5-year long-term follow-up, with all-cause mortality as the primary endpoint. EAT volume was quantified on pre-TAVR planning CTs. Patients were retrospectively dichotomized at the median of 74 cm3 of EAT into groups with low EAT and high EAT volumes. Mortality rates were compared using Kaplan-Meyer plots and uni- and multivariable cox regression analyses. RESULTS A total number of 341 of 416 patients (median age 80.9 years, 45% female) were included in the final analysis. Patients with high EAT volumes had similar short-term outcome (p = 0.794) but significantly worse long-term prognosis (p = 0.023) compared to patients with low EAT volumes. Increased EAT volumes were associated with worse long-term outcome (HR1.59; p = 0.031) independently from concomitant cardiovascular risk factors, general type of AS, and functional echocardiography parameters of AS severity (HR1.69; p = 0.013). CONCLUSION Increased EAT volume is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with severe AS undergoing TAVR. It can be easily obtained from pre-TAVR planning CTs and may thus qualify as a novel marker to improve prognostication and management of patient with severe AS. TRIAL REGISTRATION DRKS, DRKS00024479.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Schulz
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bo E Beuthner
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Zoé M Böttiger
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Svante S Gersch
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Torben Lange
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Judith Gronwald
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ruben Evertz
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sören J Backhaus
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Johannes T Kowallick
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerd Hasenfuß
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Schuster
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099, Göttingen, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
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Evertz R, Hub S, Beuthner BE, Backhaus SJ, Lange T, Schulz A, Toischer K, Seidler T, von Haehling S, Puls M, Kowallick JT, Zeisberg EM, Hasenfuß G, Schuster A. Aortic valve calcification and myocardial fibrosis determine outcome following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. ESC Heart Fail 2023. [PMID: 37060191 PMCID: PMC10375183 DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.14307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS There is evidence to suggest that the subtype of aortic stenosis (AS), the degree of myocardial fibrosis (MF), and level of aortic valve calcification (AVC) are associated with adverse cardiac outcome in AS. Because little is known about their respective contribution, we sought to investigate their relative importance and interplay as well as their association with adverse cardiac events following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS AND RESULTS One hundred consecutive patients with severe AS and indication for TAVR were prospectively enrolled between January 2017 and October 2018. Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography, multidetector computed tomography, and left ventricular endomyocardial biopsies at the time of TAVR. The final study cohort consisted of 92 patients with a completed study protocol, 39 (42.4%) of whom showed a normal ejection fraction (EF) high-gradient (NEFHG) AS, 13 (14.1%) a low EF high-gradient (LEFHG) AS, 25 (27.2%) a low EF low-gradient (LEFLG) AS, and 15 (16.3%) a paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient (PLFLG) AS. The high-gradient phenotypes (NEFHG and LEFHG) showed the largest amount of AVC (807 ± 421 and 813 ± 281 mm3 , respectively) as compared with the low-gradient phenotypes (LEFLG and PLFLG; 503 ± 326 and 555 ± 594 mm3 , respectively, P < 0.05). Conversely, MF was most prevalent in low-output phenotypes (LEFLG > LEFHG > PLFLG > NEFHG, P < 0.05). This was paralleled by a greater cardiovascular (CV) mortality within 600 days after TAVR (LEFLG 28% > PLFLG 26.7% > LEFHG 15.4% > NEFHG 2.5%; P = 0.023). In patients with a high MF burden, a higher AVC was associated with a lower mortality following TAVR (P = 0.045, hazard ratio 0.261, 95% confidence interval 0.07-0.97). CONCLUSIONS MF is associated with adverse CV outcome following TAVR, which is most prevalent in low EF situations. In the presence of large MF burden, patients with large AVC have better outcome following TAVR. Conversely, worse outcome in large MF and relatively little AVC may be explained by a relative prominence of an underlying cardiomyopathy. The better survival rates in large AVC patients following TAVR indicate TAVR induced relief of severe AS-associated pressure overload with subsequently improved outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Evertz
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Hub
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bo Eric Beuthner
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sören J Backhaus
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Torben Lange
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Schulz
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Karl Toischer
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Seidler
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stephan von Haehling
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Miriam Puls
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Johannes T Kowallick
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth M Zeisberg
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerd Hasenfuß
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Schuster
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
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