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Aims First-phase ejection fraction (EF1), the EF at the time to peak aortic jet velocity, has been proposed as a novel marker of peak systolic function in aortic stenosis (AS). This study aimed to explore the association of myocardial contractility and arterial load with EF1 in AS patients. Methods and results Data from a prospective, cross-sectional study of 114 patients with mild, moderate, and severe AS with preserved left ventricular EF (>50%) were analysed. EF1 was measured as the volume change from end-diastole to the time that corresponded to peak aortic jet velocity. Myocardial contractility was assessed by strain rate measured by speckle tracking echocardiography. Arterial stiffness was assessed by central pulse pressure/stroke volume index ratio (PP/SVi). The total study population included 48% women, median age was 73 years, and mean peak aortic jet velocity was 3.47 m/s. In univariable linear regression analyses, lower EF1 was associated with higher age, higher peak aortic jet velocity, lower global EF, lower global longitudinal strain, lower strain rate, and higher PP/SVi. There was no significant association between EF1 and heart rate or sex. In multivariable linear regression analysis, EF1 was associated with lower strain rate and higher PP/SVi, independent of AS severity. Replacing PP/SVi by valvular impedance did not change the results. Conclusion In patients with AS, reduced myocardial contractility and increased arterial load were associated with lower EF1 independent of the severity of valve stenosis.

International audience; Objective: Sutureless aortic valves are a novel option for aortic valve replacement. We sought to demonstrate noninferiority of sutureless versus standard bioprostheses in severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.Methods: The Perceval Sutureless Implant Versus Standard-Aortic Valve Replacement is a prospective, randomized, adaptive, open-label trial. Patients were randomized (March 2016 to September 2018) to aortic valve replacement with a sutureless or stented valve using conventional or minimally invasive approach. Primary outcome was freedom from major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events (composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or valve reintervention) at 1 year.Results: At 47 centers (12 countries), 910 patients were randomized to sutureless (n = 453) or conventional stented (n = 457) valves; mean ages were 75.4 ± 5.6 and 75.0 ± 6.1 years, and 50.1% and 44.9% were female, respectively. Mean ± standard deviation Society of Thoracic Surgeons scores were 2.4 ± 1.7 and 2.1 ± 1.3, and a ministernotomy approach was used in 50.4% and 47.3%, respectively. Concomitant procedures were performed with similar rates in both groups. Noninferiority was demonstrated for major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events at 1 year, whereas aortic valve hemodynamics improved equally in both groups. Use of sutureless valves significantly reduced surgical times (mean extracorporeal circulation times: 71.0 ± 34.1 minutes vs 87.8 ± 33.9 minutes; mean crossclamp times: 48.5 ± 24.7 vs 65.2 ± 23.6; both P < .0001), but resulted in a higher rate of pacemaker implantation (11.1% vs 3.6% at 1 year). Incidences of perivalvular and central leak were similar.Conclusions: Sutureless valves were noninferior to stented valves with respect to major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events at 1 year in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (alone or with coronary artery bypass grafting). This suggests that sutureless valves should be considered as part of a comprehensive valve program.

In the presence of aortic stenosis, the left ventricle (LV) faces a double challenge: a valvular load and an arterial load [(1)][1]. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has now become a safe and effective alternative to surgery in patients with a contraindication or at high risk [(2)][2

International audience; UNLABELLED: In aortic stenosis (AS), left ventricular (LV) adaptation to exercise has poorly been examined. Changes in LV ejection fraction may lack accuracy in identifying the presence of intrinsic myocardial impairment. AIMS: We sought to determine the impact of aortic stenosis (AS) on left ventricular (LV) longitudinal function at exercise in a series of asymptomatic patients with AS and preserved LV ejection fraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Long-axis function was assessed at rest and at exercise by using 2D speckle tracking of myocardial deformation in 207 AS patients (aortic valve area 0.87 ± 0.19 cm²) and 43 aged-matched control subjects. When compared with control subjects, patients with AS have reduced longitudinal myocardial function at rest (-20.2 ± 2.7 vs. -15.4 ± 4.0%) and at peak exercise (-25.0 ± 3.7 vs. -16.5 ± 4.9%) (P < 0.0001 for both). Exercise changes in global longitudinal strain were correlated with changes in LV ejection in controls but not in patients with AS. Changes in LV global longitudinal strain during test were lower in AS patients with an abnormal response to exercise (-0.5 ± 2.7 vs. -1.5 ± 2.8%, P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a lower global longitudinal strain at rest (P = 0.04), a higher increase in mean trans-valvular pressure gradient (P < 0.001) at exercise, and smaller exercise-induced changes in global longitudinal strain (P < 0.001) were associated with an abnormal exercise test. CONCLUSION: In AS, subnormal LV function can be reliably identified by 2D strain imaging at rest and during a sub-maximal exercise. That sensitive measure of LV systolic function is depressed in AS and even more in patients having the most severe AS.

International audience; BACKGROUND: Conventional coronary angiography (CA) is still recommended before valvular surgery. Preliminary studies suggest that multislice spiral computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) can be used to rule out coronary artery disease (CAD). AIM: To assess prospectively the safety of ruling out CAD before surgery solely on the basis of normal MSCT-CA in patients with severe aortic valve disease. METHODS: We included all consecutive patients scheduled for aortic valve surgery. We first estimated the calcium score (Agatston score equivalent [ASE]). Patients underwent injected MSCT if the ASE was or =1000. Of 136 patients who underwent MSCT-CA, 106 (78%) had a normal MSCT-CA and underwent aortic valve surgery without prior CA; CA was performed in 30 patients because of abnormal (n=18) or bad quality (n=12) MSCT-CA. One patient of the 106 (0.94%, 95% confidence interval 0.17-5.15) had a perioperative myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: When the ASE is

International audience; In aortic stenosis (AS), the increased afterload results in progressive structural and functional changes that precede the development of symptoms. We hypothesized that the detection of abnormalities in left ventricular long-axis function could identify patients with asymptomatic AS at increased risk of events. We prospectively examined the outcome of 126 patients with asymptomatic AS who underwent a comprehensive echocardiographic examination, including tissue Doppler imaging. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was measured in all patients. During a median follow-up period of 20.3 + or - 17.8 months, 6 patients died, 8 developed symptoms but did not undergo surgery, and 48 underwent aortic valve replacement. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, the parameters associated with the predefined outcome were gender (p = 0.048), left atrial area index (p = 0.011), systolic annular velocity (p = 0.016), E/Ea ratio (p = 0.024), late diastolic annular velocity (p = 0.023), and BNP (p = 0.012). Using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, a left atrial area index of > or = 12.4 cm(2)/m(2), systolic annular velocity of < or = 4.5 cm/s, E/Ea ratio >13.8, late diastolic annular velocity of < or = 9 cm/s, and BNP of > or = 61 pg/ml were identified as the best cutoff values to predict events. In conclusion, in asymptomatic AS, tissue Doppler imaging and BNP measurements provide prognostic information beyond that from clinical and conventional echocardiographic parameters.

International audience; OBJECTIVES: To evaluate multislice computed tomography (MSCT) as an alternative to coronary angiography, we prospectively studied its diagnostic accuracy for the detection of significant coronary artery lesions in patients with significant aortic valve stenosis undergoing valve surgery. BACKGROUND: In patients with aortic valve stenosis, coronary angiography is still recommended before surgery. Multislice computed tomography is a promising noninvasive technique for the detection of significant coronary artery lesions. METHODS: Fifty-five consecutive patients scheduled for coronary angiography in the preoperative assessment of aortic valve stenosis underwent 16-slice MSCT 24 h before coronary angiography. We analyzed coronary lesions, image quality, and arterial calcium score. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the MSCT-based strategy in detecting significant stenosis was 100%, and its specificity 80%. The positive and negative predictive values were respectively 55% and 100%. For calcium scores 1,000, MSCT enabled conventional coronary angiography to be avoided in only 6% of cases, either because significant stenosis was found with a possible indication of revascularization, or because the examination was not interpretable. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this initial experience in relatively few patients suggest that MSCT-based coronary angiography may serve as an alternative to invasive coronary angiography to rule out significant coronary artery disease in patients scheduled for elective aortic valve replacement. Larger studies are necessary to fully explore the potential of coronary MSCT to improve preoperative risk stratification.

In patients with aortic stenosis (AS) requiring aortic valve intervention, the accurate assessment of aortic annulus and aortic root size and geometry is of high clinical interest.1 The presence of small aortic root (SAR), may complicate aortic valve procedure. Furthermore, earlier in the natural history of patients with AS, SAR per se , may make the AS severity assessment more complex, due to increase pressure recovery phenomenon. Indeed, SAR may be source of discordant findings between AS severity parameters such as aortic valve area and mean pressure gradient.2 Altogether, these points underline the challenge particularities of patients with AS and SAR in clinical practice. However, although the determinants of SAR are well known, data regarding the potential prognostic value of SAR per se for risk stratification in patients with AS are lacking. Beforehand, the exact definition of SAR and the appropriate method of assessment still remain undetermined. In this issue of the ‘Journal’, Bahlmann et al. 3 report a sub-analysis of the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study. They measured, in the study core-lab, the end-diastolic inner diameters and anterior wall thicknesses of the ascending aorta at the sinus of Valsalva and sino-tubular junction levels in 1560 patients who underwent echocardiography in 173 centres. They defined SAR as aortic sino-tubular junction diameter indexed for body height

Background— Recent studies emphasized the usefulness of exercise stress echocardiography in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis. Nevertheless, the additive value of exercise pulmonary hypertension (Ex-PHT) in such patients remains unexplored. We therefore aimed to identify the determinants and to test the impact on outcome of Ex-PHT in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis. Method and Results— Asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (n=105; aortic valve area 2 /m 2 ; age, 71±9 years; male, 59%) and preserved left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction ≥55%) were prospectively submitted to exercise stress echocardiography. Resting PHT and Ex-PHT were defined as a systolic pulmonary arterial pressure >50 and >60 mm Hg, respectively. Ex-PHT was more frequent than resting PHT (55% versus 6%; P P =0.002), resting systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (odds ratio, 1.16; P =0.002), exercise indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume (odds ratio, 1.04; P =0.026), exercise e′-wave velocity (odds ratio, 1.35; P =0.047), and exercise-induced changes in indexed left atrial area (odds ratio, 1.36; P =0.006). Ex-PHT was associated with reduced cardiac event-free survival (at 3 years, 22±7% versus 55±9%; P =0.014). In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, Ex-PHT was identified as an independent predictor of cardiac events (hazard ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–3.3; P =0.047). When exercise-induced changes in mean aortic pressure gradient were added to the multivariable model, Ex-PHT remained independently associated with reduced cardiac event-free survival (hazard ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–3.6; P =0.025). Conclusions— In asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis, the main determinants of Ex-PHT are male sex, resting systolic pulmonary arterial pressure, and exercise parameters of diastolic burden. Moreover, Ex-PHT is associated with a 2-fold increased risk of cardiac events. These results strongly support the use of exercise stress echocardiography in asymptomatic aortic stenosis.

International audience; BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) is an emerging intervention for the treatment of high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis and coexisting illnesses. We report the results of a prospective multicenter study of the French national transcatheter aortic-valve implantation registry, FRANCE 2. METHODS: All TAVIs performed in France, as listed in the FRANCE 2 registry, were prospectively included in the study. The primary end point was death from any cause. RESULTS: A total of 3195 patients were enrolled between January 2010 and October 2011 at 34 centers. The mean (±SD) age was 82.7±7.2 years; 49% of the patients were women. All patients were highly symptomatic and were at high surgical risk for aortic-valve replacement. Edwards SAPIEN and Medtronic CoreValve devices were implanted in 66.9% and 33.1% of patients, respectively. Approaches were either transarterial (transfemoral, 74.6%; subclavian, 5.8%; and other, 1.8%) or transapical (17.8%). The procedural success rate was 96.9%. Rates of death at 30 days and 1 year were 9.7% and 24.0%, respectively. At 1 year, the incidence of stroke was 4.1%, and the incidence of periprosthetic aortic regurgitation was 64.5%. In a multivariate model, a higher logistic risk score on the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE), New York Heart Association functional class III or IV symptoms, the use of a transapical TAVI approach, and a higher amount of periprosthetic regurgitation were significantly associated with reduced survival. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective registry study reflected real-life TAVI experience in high-risk elderly patients with aortic stenosis, in whom TAVI appeared to be a reasonable option. (Funded by Edwards Lifesciences and Medtronic.).

An 80-year-old man presented with symptomatic aortic stenosis. Four months after aortic valve replacement, the patient presented with an impressive pre-sternal 10-cm mass evolving since few weeks (Fig. ​(Fig.1).1). Surgical removal of the tumor concluded to a myxofibrosarcoma (Fig. ​(Fig.2),2), which was followed by radiotherapy. Figure 1: Axial (left) and sagittal (right) scanography showing a 103.9 × 76.7 mm pre-sternal tumor. Figure 2: Macroscopic view of the tumor (left and middle) and hematoxylin, eosin and safron staining with a 400 magnification showing a grade 2 myxofibrosarcoma (right).

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 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.

International audience; OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate prognostic markers of clinical outcome in asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis (AS). DESIGN: Prospective follow-up of asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe AS. The patients underwent clinical and Doppler echocardiographic evaluation. SETTING: Department of Cardiology. PATIENTS: 163 patients with moderate to severe AS (aortic valve area < or =0.6 cm(2)/m(2)). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk stratification. Predefined endpoints for assessing the outcome were the occurrence during follow-up of symptoms, aortic valve replacement or death. RESULTS: During follow-up (mean, 20 (19) months), 11 patients developed symptoms but were not operated on, 57 required aortic valve replacement and six patients died. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, four parameters that were associated with the outcome were identified: peak aortic jet velocity, left ventricular systolic (LV) longitudinal deformation, valvulo-arterial impedance and indexed left atrial area. Using receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis, a peak aortic jet velocity > or =4.4 m/s, a LV longitudinal myocardial deformation < or =15.9%, a valvular-arterial impedance > or =4.9 mm Hg/ml per m(2) and an indexed left atrial area > or =12.2 cm(2)/m(2) were identified as the best cut-off values to be associated with events. CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe AS, measurements that integrate the ventricular, vascular and valvular components of the disease improve risk stratification.

Aims The present study sought to assess the effect of global left ventricular (LV) afterload on LV myocardial systolic function in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved LV ejection fraction. Methods and results We prospectively examined the LV myocardial deformation (i.e. longitudinal, radial, and circumferential) by two-dimensional speckle tracking in 173 patients with asymptomatic severe AS. Thirty-eight patients (22%) had low flow as determined by a low stroke volume index (≤35 mL/m2). By multivariable analysis, four variables emerged as independently associated with low-flow AS: peak Ea velocity ( P = 0.01), left atrial area index ( P = 0.017), global LV afterload ( P = 0.024), and circumferential myocardial deformation ( P = 0.04). Forty-nine patients (28%) had an increased global LV afterload (≥5 mmHg mL/m2). Systemic arterial compliance ( P = 0.001), circumferential myocardial deformation ( P = 0.024), and left atrial area index ( P = 0.04) were independently associated with increased global LV load in multivariable analysis. Of note, LV ejection fraction was not identified as a determinant of low flow or increased afterload. Conclusion In asymptomatic patients with severe AS, LV ejection fraction markedly underestimates the extent of myocardial systolic impairment. Intrinsic myocardial dysfunction is particularly common in patients with increased global LV afterload, and especially in the subset of patients with low-flow AS.

Background Early detection of diastolic dysfunction is crucial for patients with incipient heart failure. Although this evaluation could be performed from phase-contrast (PC) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) data, its usefulness in clinical routine is not yet established, mainly because the interpretation of such data remains mostly based on manual post-processing. Accordingly, our goal was to develop a robust process to automatically estimate velocity and flow rate-related diastolic parameters from PC-CMR data and to test the consistency of these parameters against echocardiography as well as their ability to characterize left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. Results We studied 35 controls and 18 patients with severe aortic valve stenosis and preserved LV ejection fraction who had PC-CMR and Doppler echocardiography exams on the same day. PC-CMR mitral flow and myocardial velocity data were analyzed using custom software for semi-automated extraction of diastolic parameters. Inter-operator reproducibility of flow pattern segmentation and functional parameters was assessed on a sub-group of 30 subjects. The mean percentage of overlap between the transmitral flow segmentations performed by two independent operators was 99.7 ± 1.6%, resulting in a small variability ( 0.71) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed their ability to separate patients from controls, with sensitivity > 0.80, specificity > 0.80 and accuracy > 0.85. Slight superiority in terms of correlation with echocardiography (r = 0.81) and accuracy to detect LV abnormalities (sensitivity > 0.83, specificity > 0.91 and accuracy > 0.89) was found for the PC-CMR flow-rate related parameters. Conclusions A fast and reproducible technique for flow and myocardial PC-CMR data analysis was successfully used on controls and patients to extract consistent velocity-related diastolic parameters, as well as flow rate-related parameters. This technique provides a valuable addition to established CMR tools in the evaluation and the management of patients with diastolic dysfunction.

International audience; BACKGROUND: In a pressure overloaded left ventricle, regional systolic function has often deteriorated despite normal ejection fraction. OBJECTIVE: To correlate regional systolic function obtained by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) with improvement in functional status after aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS AND RESULTS: 24 hours before aortic valve replacement, 32 patients with severe AS underwent conventional and TDI echocardiography for systolic peak velocity, peak strain and peak strain rate measurement in the short-axis posterior wall. At follow-up, a composite end point of cardiovascular death, worsening of heart failure and limited exercise capacity was recorded. Before surgery, mean (SD) aortic valve area and pressure gradient were 0.69 (0.22) cm(2) and 50 (14) mm Hg, respectively. Ejection fraction was 61 (10)% and septal thickness was 15 (3) mm. Fourteen events were recorded but no cardiac death. By using the multivariate regression analysis, systolic peak strain rate (p = 0.003) was the strongest predictor of limited recovery after aortic valve replacement. The peak strain rate cut-off point was 2/s by receiver operating characteristic analysis. CONCLUSION: Irrespective of ejection fraction and thickness, strain rate is a determinant which predicts recovery after aortic valve replacement in patients with severe AS.

Calcific aortic valve stenosis is by far the most common valve disease in developed countries.1 The first clinical symptoms usually appear in the late 60s. Prosthetic aortic valve replacement is the only effective treatment at present.2 The reasons for the occurrence of calcifications of the aortic cusps leading eventually after many years to aortic valve stenosis are unknown. Some risk factors, mainly those already recognised in vascular disease, have been found to be associated with aortic valve stenosis and are considered to cause the disease.3,4 However, these factors are totally non-specific and may be confounded with factors leading to other illnesses. Recently a genetic hypothesis has been proposed after observation of a few familial cases5 but remains largely challenged in the absence of gene determination. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether epidemiological data collected in a selected region of France could provide evidence in favour of this hypothesis. The list of all patients who had undergone aortic valve replacement for calcific aortic valve stenosis in the cardiac surgery department of the Brest University Hospital between January 1996 and June 2003 was obtained from the central computerised registration of medical diagnosis and surgical procedures of the hospital, coded according to the International classification of diseases , 10th revision. This list was compared, and if necessary completed, with the diary registries of all the surgical interventions performed in the cardiac surgery department. For each patient, the following data were collected: name, sex, date of surgery, date of birth, and social security number. The social security number is a 15 digit number allowing identification for sex, year and month of birth, and geographic origin (region and commune). France is administratively divided into 22 provinces, about 100 regions, and 36 000 communes. The commune is the …