Background and aim of the study: Patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) tend to develop dilatation of the ascending aorta. The study aim was to analyze differences in aortic root diameter and configuration in patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve disease.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the angiographies of 461 patients allocated to four groups with: (i) BAV disease with (n = 179) and (ii) without (n = 78) dilatation of the ascending aorta; (iii) tricuspid aortic valve disease (TAV) and dilatation of the ascending aorta (n = 154); and (iv) coronary artery disease (CAD), TAV and normal diameter of the ascending aorta (n=50). Diameters and distances in the aortic root region were measured, and the ascending aorta configuration analyzed.
Results: The diameter of the ascending aorta in patients with BAV and dilatation was significantly larger than in those with TAV and dilatation (26.6 ± 5.22

versus 24.4 ± 3.74 mm/m2, p = 0.002). Distances between aortic valve level and point of maximum diameter of the ascending aorta at the outer and inner curve of the vessel in patients with BAV without dilatation were greater than those of the CAD group (31.1 ± 5.27 versus 28.0 ± 4.86 mm/m2, p = 0.002 and for the indexed values 21.6 ± 4.05 versus 20.0 ± 2.71 mm/m2, p = 0.011). All patients with BAV and enlargement of the ascending aorta showed asymmetric dilatation of the vessel.
Conclusion: All patients with BAV had an abnormal configuration of the ascending aorta. In cases with enlargement of the ascending aorta exclusively, asymmetric dilatation at the convexity of the vessel occurred. Patients with BAV and normal ascending aorta diameter showed an elongation of this vessel segment.

The Journal of Heart Valve Disease 2006;15:594-600