Low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis despite normal ejection fraction is associated with severe left ventricular dysfunction as assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography: a multicenter study.

Jérôme Adda (1) , Christopher Mielot (1) , Roch Giorgi (2, 3) , Frédéric Cransac (4) , Xavier Zirphile (5) , Erwan Donal (6) , Catherine Sportouch-Dukhan (4) , Patricia Réant (5) , Stéphane Laffitte (5) , Stéphane Cade (4) , Yvan Le Dolley (1) , Franck Thuny (1) , Nathalie Touboul (1) , Cécile Lavoute (1) , Jean-François Avierinos (1) , Patrizio Lancellotti (7) , Gilbert Habib (1)

1 Service de cardiologie
2 LERTIM - Laboratoire d'Enseignement et de Recherche sur le Traitement de l'Information Médicale
3 SSPIM - Service de Santé Publique et d'Information Médicale
4 Service de cardiologie [Montpellier]
5 Département de cardiologie
6 LTSI - Laboratoire Traitement du Signal et de l'Image
7 Service de cardiologie [Liège]

BACKGROUND: Low-flow low-gradient (LFLG) is sometimes observed in severe aortic stenosis (AS) despite normal ejection fraction, but its frequency and mechanisms are still debated. We aimed to describe the characteristics of patients with LFLG AS and assess the presence of longitudinal left ventricular dysfunction in these patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a multicenter prospective study, 340 consecutive patients with severe AS and normal ejection fraction were studied. Longitudinal left ventricular function was assessed by 2D-strain and global afterload by valvulo-arterial impedance. Patients were classified according to flow and gradient: low flow was defined as a stroke volume index ≤35 mL/m(2), low gradient as a mean gradient ≤40 mm Hg. Most patients (n=258, 75.9%) presented with high-gradient AS, and 82 patients (24.1%) with low-gradient AS. Among the latter, 52 (15.3%) presented with normal flow and low gradient and 30 (8.8%) with LFLG. As compared with normal flow and low gradient, patients with LFLG had more severe AS (aortic valve area=0.7±0.12 cm(2) versus 0.86±0.14 cm(2)), higher valvulo-arterial impedance (5.5±1.1 versus 4±0.8 mm Hg/mL/m(2)), and worse longitudinal left ventricular function (basal longitudinal strain=-11.6±3.4 versus -14.8±3%; P<0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: LFLG AS is observed in 9% of patients with severe AS and normal ejection fraction and is associated with high global afterload and reduced longitudinal systolic function. Patients with normal-flow low-gradient AS are more frequent and present with less severe AS, normal afterload, and less severe longitudinal dysfunction. Severe left ventricular longitudinal dysfunction is a new explanation to the concept of LFLG AS.

Mots clés: aorta; stenosis; echocardiography; valves

Domaines: Ingénierie biomédicale; Cardiologie et système cardiovasculaire

Jérôme Adda, Christopher Mielot, Roch Giorgi, Frédéric Cransac, Xavier Zirphile, et al.. Low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis despite normal ejection fraction is associated with severe left ventricular dysfunction as assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography: a multicenter study.. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, 2012, 5 (1), pp.27-35. ⟨10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.111.967554⟩. ⟨hal-00880921⟩