Stress Echocardiography to Assess Stenosis Severity and Predict Outcome in Patients With Paradoxical Low-Flow, Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis and Preserved LVEF

The objective of this study was to examine the value of stress-echocardiography in patients with paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient (PLFLG) aortic stenosis (AS). The projected aortic valve area (AVAProj) at a normal flow rate was calculated in 55 patients with PLFLG AS. In the subset of patients (n = 13) who underwent an aortic valve replacement within 3 months after stress echocardiography, AVAProj correlated better with the valve weight compared to traditional resting and stress echocardiographic parameters of AS severity (AVAProj: r = −0.78 vs. other parameters: r = 0.46 to 0.56). In the whole group (N = 55), 18 (33%) patients had an AVAProj >1.0 cm2, being consistent with the presence of pseudo severe AS. The AVAProj was also superior to traditional parameters of stenosis severity for predicting outcomes (hazard ratio: 1.32/0.1 cm2 decrease in AVAProj). In patients with PLFLG AS, the measurement of AVAproj derived from stress echocardiography is helpful to determine the actual severity of the stenosis and predict risk of adverse events.