Arterial mechanical properties after replacement or reconstruction of the aortic root

Background: Alteration of arterial mechanical properties has adverse effects on cardiovascular disease in Marfan syndrome. Design: We compared central pulse pressure, augmentation index adjusted to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (AIx@HR75) and pulse wave velocity in 25 Marfan patients who had under-gone an aortic valve-sparing reimplantation operation, in 15 Marfan patients after composite valve grafting operation, and in 40 age and sex-matched Mar-fan patients who had not undergone surgery. Results: Central pulse pressure, AIx@HR75 and pulse wave velocity were similar across all three patient groups. Exclusively AIx@HR75 was higher with conduit operations than in persons without any surgery (P = 0.03). Multivariate linear regression analysis documented association of AIx@HR75 with body height (P < 0.001) and with a history of aortic valve-sparing reimplantation operation (P < 0.001) or with a composite valve grafting operation (P = 0.006). Conclusions: Arterial mechanical properties are only mildly altered by surgery of the aortic root without difference between the reimplantation and conduit operation.