Outcome and Impact of Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Preserved LVEF and Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015 Dec 15;66(23):2594-2603. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.09.076.

Abstract

Background: Low mean transvalvular gradient (<40 mm Hg) and small aortic valve area (<1.0 cm(2)) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction raises uncertainty about the actual severity of the stenosis and survival benefit of aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Objectives: This study analyzed studies of mortality and survival impact of AVR in patients with low-gradient (LG) AS and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, including paradoxical low-flow (i.e., stroke volume index <35 ml/m(2)), low-gradient (LF-LG) and normal-flow, low-gradient (NF-LG), and those with high-gradient (≥ 40 mm Hg) AS or moderate AS.

Methods: Studies published between 2005 and 2015 were analyzed. Primary outcome was the survival benefit associated with AVR. Secondary outcome was overall mortality regardless of treatment.

Results: Eighteen studies were included in the analysis. Patients with LF-LG AS have increased mortality compared with patients with moderate AS (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31 to 2.17), NF-LG (HR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.29 to 2.51), and high-gradient (HR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.16 to 2.39) AS. AVR was associated with reduced mortality in patients with LF-LG (HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.77). Similar benefit occurred with AVR in patients with NF-LG (HR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.83). Compared with patients with high-gradient AS, those with LF-LG were less likely to be referred to AVR (odds ratio: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.49).

Conclusions: Patients with paradoxical LF-LG AS and NF-LG AS have increased risk of mortality compared with other subtypes of AS with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, and improved outcome with AVR.

Keywords: aortic valve replacement; low gradient aortic stenosis; paradoxical flow aortic stenosis.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / diagnosis
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / mortality
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / physiopathology
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / surgery
  • Aortic Valve* / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve* / surgery
  • Echocardiography / methods
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation* / adverse effects
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation* / methods
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation* / mortality
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stroke Volume
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Function, Left