Evaluation of Diastolic Function in Patients with Aortic Stenosis

Introduction: Diastolic dysfunction is characterized by an increased resistance to filling with increased diastolic filling pressures. Aortic stenosis has become the most frequent type of valvular heart disease. Aortic stenosis increases diastolic filling pressures due left ventricular hypertrophy.
Material and methods: Our study is a retrospective one, and includes the IV. th Medical Clinic patients discharged in years 2009–2010. Thirty-four patients with severe aortic stenosis (group A), and 21 patients with moderate aortic stenosis (group B) underwent complete paraclinical evaluation.
Results: The mean age in the group A was 70 years, versus 67 years in group B. The left atrium anteroposterior diameter was 46 mm in grop A, and 43 mm in group B. In group A, the mean left ventricular thickness index was 0.51, versus 0.46 in group B. Severe diastolic dysfunction was present in 35% in group A , and in 19% in group B. The most frequent associated pathology was hypertension (35% in group A, 47% in group B).The most common complications were mitral insufficiency (31 patients in group A, 16 patients in group B), pulmonary hypertension (16 patients versus 9 patients).
Conclusions: The severe aortic stenosis was more frequent in advanced ages. The left atrium enlargement, the severe diastolic dysfunction, and a greater left ventricular wall thickness index were more common in patients with severe aortic stenosis. The most common associated risk factors in both groups were hypertension. The mitral regurgitation was more frequent in the severe aortic stenosis group.