Association Between Bicuspid Aortic Valve Phenotype and Patterns of Valvular Dysfunction and Bicuspid Aortopathy : Comprehensive Evaluation Using MDCT and Echocardiography

ObjectivesWe sought to define the clinical importance of an integrated classification of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) phenotypes and aortopathy using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).BackgroundAn association between BAV phenotypes and the pattern of valvular dysfunction or bicuspid aortopathy has yet to be definitely established.MethodsThe study cohort included 167 subjects (116 men, age 54.6 ± 14.4 years) who underwent both MDCT and transthoracic echocardiography from 2003 to 2010. Two BAV phenotypes—fusion of the right and left coronary cusps (BAV-AP) and fusion of the right or left coronary cusp and noncoronary cusp (BAV-RL)—were identified. Forty-five patients showed normal aortic dimensions and were classified as type 0. In the remaining patients, hierarchic cluster analysis showed 3 different types of bicuspid aortopathy according to the pattern of aortic dilation: type 1 (aortic enlargement confined to the sinus of Valsalva [n = 34]), type 2 (aortic enlargement involving the tubular portion of the ascending aorta [n = 49]), and type 3 (aortic enlargement extending to the transverse aortic arch [n = 39]).ResultsThe prevalence of BAV-AP and BAV-RL was 55.7% and 44.3%, respectively. Comparing BAV-AP and BAV-RL, no differences in age or in the prevalence of male sex were determined. However, significant differences in the valvular dysfunction pattern were noted, with moderate-to-severe aortic stenosis predominating in patients with BAV-RL (66.2% vs. 46.2% in BAV-AP; p = 0.01), and moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation in BAV-AP (32.3% vs. 6.8% in BAV-RL; p < 0.0001). A normal aorta was the most common phenotype in BAV-AP patients (33.3% vs. 18.9% in BAV-RL; p = 0.037), and type 3 aortopathy was the most common phenotype in BAV-RL patients (40.5% vs. 9.7% in BAV-AP; p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe patterns of valvular dysfunction and bicuspid aortopathy differed significantly between the 2 BAV phenotypes, suggesting the possibility of etiologically different entities.