Serial evaluation of the thoracic aorta in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve: a magnetic resonance angiography study.

Background: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is associated with an arteriopathy leading to a progressive dilatation of the aortic root. Recent studies have shown that the whole thoracic aorta is affected by this arteriopathy. Longitudinal data regarding the progression of this arteriopathy in the whole thoracic aorta has not been reported before. Patients and methods: In this retrospective study 40 patients (mean age 28.5 ± 9.1 years) had 2 MR-angiographies (mean interval 37.1 ± 15.2 months). In 23 patients the aortic valve was regurgitant, in 1 stenotic, in 4 combined aortic stenosis / regurgitation was found, while in 12 the valve function was normal. Aortic diameters were measured at 6 different, standardized anatomical points. The influence of demographic and clinical parameters was assessed. Results: A significant increase of the diameter was observed at the aortic root (35.4 ± 5.6 mm → 39.1 ± 6.5 mm, p < 0.001), the ascending aorta (37.3 ± 8.0 mm → 39.5 ± 8.5 mm, p = 0.001), proximal to the innominate ar...