Anomalous origin of the coronary artery taking an interarterial course can cause myocardial infarction or sudden death. Association of anomalous origin of the coronary artery with congenital bicuspid aortic valve is rare, and only a few cases have been reported with imaging findings. Coronary artery aneurysms found in young adults are usually non-atherosclerotic. We report MDCT findings of anom...

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms (SOVA) are rare cardiac abnormalities that are most commonly congenital in origin and frequently associated with aortic valve pathology. Unruptured SOVA are more frequently identified currently, owing to the increased use and accuracy of diagnostic investigations. Early surgical intervention is recommended to prevent complications. We describe a case of a young patie...

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has recently emerged as a therapeutic option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are considered inoperable.1 To avoid potential complications related to this novel procedure (such as coronary artery obstruction or perivalvular leakage), detailed information on the aortic valve anatomy is critically important.1,2 Multislice computed tomograp...

BACKGROUND There is debate concerning whether an aneurysmal ascending aorta should be replaced when associated with a dysfunctioning aortic valve that is to be replaced. To examine this issue, we divided the patients by type of aortic valve dysfunction-either aortic stenosis (AS) or pure aortic regurgitation (AR)-something not previously undertaken. METHODS AND RESULTS Of 122 patients with as...

BACKGROUND Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach for patients with severe tricuspid aortic stenosis (AS) not suitable for aortic valve replacement. OBJECTIVES To describe our initial single-center experience with TAVI in patients with "off-label" indications. METHODS Between August 2008 and December 2011 we performed TAVI in 186 patients...

Methods Between June 1996 and November 2012, 21 patients who underwent aortic valve sparing for aortic root aneurysm were retrospectively reviewed. Mean age was 45 ± 16 years. 9 patients had Marfan syndrome and one patient had Takayasu arteritis. All patients had tricuspid aortic valve except one patient with bicuspid valve, and 15 patients showed moderate or severe degree of aortic regurgitati...

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is the most common congenital cardiac defect. While the BAV can be found in isolation, it is often associated with other congenital cardiac lesions. The most frequent associated finding is dilation of the proximal ascending aorta secondary to abnormalities of the aortic media. Changes in the aortic media are present independent of whether the valve is functio...

We report the case of a Caucasian man with the unusual combination of an infundibular ventricular septal defect (VSD), an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva communicating with the right ventricle, and a bicuspid aortic valve. When aortic valve regurgitation associated with mild right aortic cusp prolapse appeared during follow-up examination, the patient, although totally asymptomatic, underwent...

RATIONALE Aortic valve disease is a cell-mediated process without effective pharmacotherapy. CNP (C-type natriuretic peptide) inhibits myofibrogenesis and osteogenesis of cultured valve interstitial cells and is downregulated in stenotic aortic valves. However, it is unknown whether CNP signaling regulates aortic valve health in vivo. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to determine whether a ...