This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weyman, A. E. Articles by Dillon, J. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weyman, A. E. Articles by Dillon, J. C.

Circulation, Vol 55, 773-778, Copyright © 1977 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Cross-sectional echocardiographic assessment of the severity of aortic stenosis in children

AE Weyman, H Feigenbaum, RA Hurwitz, DA Girod and JC Dillon

Real-time, cross-sectional echocardiographic studies of the aortic valve were performed in 28 children with congenital valvular aortic stenosis and in 22 normal subjects. The presence of a stenotic valve was indicated by increase in echo production, abnormal motion pattern, and abnormal systolic position of the valve leaflets. Comparison of the maximum aortic cusp separation (MACS) to calculated aortic valve area yielded an r of 0.91. MACS was then expressed as a percentage of aortic root diameter (AOD) to correct for patient size. In normals MACS averaged 72.7% (range 63-92%) of AOD. With mile aortic stenosis MACS averaged 53.1% of AOD (range 42-62%) (P less than 0.001 vs normal). With moderate and severe aortic stenosis MACS averaged 29.9% of AOD (range 20-35%) (P less than 0.001 vs mild AS). Comparing the ratio MACS/AOD to peak systolic gradient yielded an r of 0.88. Further comparing this ratio to calculated aortic valve area yielded an r of 0.80. Cross-sectional echocardiography can detect the presence of aortic stenosis in children and, by comparing the ratio MACS/AOD, can provide information concerning the severity of the stenotic lesion.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. M. Folger The Spectrum of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction: an Overview Angiology, November 1, 1980; 31(11): 779 - 799. [PDF]