[Diagnostic criteria and clinical evaluation of tricuspid aortic valve asymmetry].

Abstract

To investigate size of the aortal root and its valves in young patients and correlation between tricuspid aortal valve (TAV) asymmetry and connective tissue dysplasia (CTD).
TAV symmetry was studied in young patients. Morphological examination consisted in phenotypic study of 34 corpses of young people who had died of noncardiological causes with a focus to internal signs of CTD signs and measurements of TAV and each cusp. Echocardiographic examination comprised phenotypic, clinical and echocardiographic studies of 144 young patients.
Echocardiographic diagnostic criteria of TAV asymmetry were specified. They consisted in eccentricity of the line of diastolic closure of aortal cusp (M-mode echocardiography) > 1.2; distinct differences in the size of the cusps (two-dimentional study), shift of at least one of the comissures by I hour at the "clock-face". A close correlation was detected between TA V asymmetry, external and clinical manifestations of CTD. The morphological criterion of TA V asymmetry--a more than 38% increase in the ratio of cusp area to sectional area of aortal root.
TAV asymmetry is detected in 20% young people. It is closely related to external signs and clinical manifestations of CTD, other minor heart anomalies and may be accompanied with aortal regurgitation.