Infective endocarditis in patients with bicuspid aortic valve: Clinical characteristics, complications, and prognosis.

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most frequent congenital cardiac disease. It is associated to a higher risk of cardiovascular complications, including infective endocarditis (IE). Retrospective, observational and single centre study that included all patients with IE diagnosed between 1996 and 2014. An analysis was made of the epidemiological, clinical, microbiological and echocardiographic data, complications during hospital admission, need for surgery, in-hospital mortality, and 1-year follow-up. Cases with endocarditis on prosthetic valves or other locations were excluded, as well as those for which the aortic valve morphology had not been accurately defined. A comparative statistical analysis was performed between BAV and tricuspid (TAV). Of a total of 328 cases with IE, 118 (35.67%) were on aortic valve, with 18 (16.22%) of them being BAV. The BAV cases were younger than TAV (51±19.06 vs. 60.83±15.73 years, P=.021) and they had less comorbidity (Charlson 0.67±0.77 vs. 1.44±1.64, P=.03).). There was a higher tendency of Staphylococcal origin (38.9 vs. 21.5%, P=.137), and 55.6% showed peri-valvular complications (TAV 16.1%, P=.001), in particular, abscesses (38.9 vs.16.1%, P=.047). BAV was the only predictive factor of peri-valvular complications (OR 7.87, 95% CI; 2.38-26.64, P=.001). Patients with BAV had more surgery during their admission (83.3 vs. 44.1%, P=.004), had less in-hospital mortality, with no statistical significance (5.6 vs. 25.8%, P=.069), and 1-year survival was significantly superior (93.8 vs 69.3%, P=.048). Patients with IE on BAV are young, with low comorbidity. They frequently present with peri-valvular complications and they often require early surgery. Compared to TAV cases, in-hospital mortality is lower and 1-year survival is significantly higher.

Becerra-Muñoz VM ，Ruíz-Morales J ，Rodríguez-Bailón I ，Sánchez-Espín G ，López-Garrido MA ，Robledo-Carmona J ，Guijarro-Contreras A ，García-López MV ，Ivanova-Georgieva R ，Mora-Navas L ，Gómez-Doblas JJ ，de Teresa-Galván E ... -  《-》

Sex Differences and Survival in Adults With Bicuspid Aortic Valves: Verification in 3 Contemporary Echocardiographic Cohorts.

Sex-related differences in morbidity and survival in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) adults are fundamentally unknown. Contemporary studies portend excellent survival for BAV patients identified at early echocardiographic-clinical stages. Whether BAV adults incur a survival disadvantage throughout subsequent echocardiographic-clinical stages remains undetermined. Analysis was done of 3 different cohorts of consecutive patients with echocardiographic diagnosis of BAV identified retrospectively: (1) a community cohort of 416 patients with first BAV diagnosis (age 35±21 years, follow-up 16±7 years), (2) a tertiary clinical referral cohort of 2824 BAV adults (age 51±16 years, follow-up 9±6 years), and (3) a surgical referral cohort of 2242 BAV adults referred for aortic valve replacement (AVR) (age 62±14 years, follow-up 6±5 years). For the community cohort, 20-year risks of aortic regurgitation (AR), AVR, and infective endocarditis were higher in men (all P≤0.04); for a total BAV-related morbidity risk of 52±4% vs 35±6% in women (P=0.01). The cohort's 25-year survival was identical to that in the general population (P=0.98). AR independently predicted mortality in women (P=0.001). Baseline AR was more common in men (P≤0.02) in the tertiary cohort, with 20-year survival lower than that in the general population (P<0.0001); age-adjusted relative death risk was 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.29) for men versus 1.67 (95% CI 1.38-2.03) for women (P=0.001). AR independently predicted mortality in women (P=0.01). Baseline AR and infective endocarditis were higher in men (both ≤0.001) for the surgical referral cohort, with 15-year survival lower than that in the general population (P<0.0001); age-adjusted relative death risk was 1.34 (95% CI 1.22-1.47) for men versus 1.63 (95% CI 1.40-1.89) for women (P=0.026). AR and NYHA class independently predicted mortality in women (both P≤0.04). Within evolving echocardiographic-clinical stages, the long-term survival of adults with BAV is not benign, as both men and women incur excess mortality. Although BAV-related morbidity is higher in men in the community, and AR and infective endocarditis are more prevalent in men, women exhibit a significantly higher relative risk of death in tertiary and surgical referral cohorts, which is independently associated with AR.

Michelena HI ，Suri RM ，Katan O ，Eleid MF ，Clavel MA ，Maurer MJ ，Pellikka PA ，Mahoney D ，Enriquez-Sarano M ... -  《Journal of the American Heart Association》

Infective Endocarditis in Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Valves: Unique Clinical and Microbiologic Features.

Patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) are at increased risk of infective endocarditis (IE). Information of the clinical presentation and the microbiology of BAV-associated IE, however, is limited. Therefore, our study aimed to characterise the clinical features native valve endocarditis (NVE) in the setting of BAV and compared them to patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) following BAV replacement. Adult patients with BAV or history of BAV with aortic valve replacement (AVR) and a definite or possible IE diagnosis within the Mayo Clinic Enterprise (USA) from January 2008 to December 2021, were included. BAV was confirmed by trans-oesophageal echocardiography. IE was defined according to the modified Duke criteria and only an initial episode was included. Statistical analyses were performed to compare clinical characteristics, microbiology, and IE complications. Overall, 161 patients with BAV and IE (NVE [n=60], 37.3%) and PVE [n=101, 62.7%) were included. Mean age±SD was 56.5±16.1 years, and 139 (86.3%) patients were males. PVE patients were older (p<0.01) and had a higher rate of hypertension (p<0.01), chronic heart failure (p<0.01), chronic kidney disease (p<0.01), and perivalvular abscess (p<0.01). BAV patients with NVE had a higher prevalence of isolated mitral valve IE (p<0.01), moderate to severe aortic valve regurgitation (p<0.01) and combined aortic with mitral valve IE (p<0.01). Streptococcus mitis was the most common pathogen in NVE (30.0%) while Staphylococcus aureus was the most common in PVE (15.8%). Patients with BAV are at risk of both NVE and PVE. Each syndrome has unique clinical features, including microbiologic findings, that should be appreciated in IE diagnosis and management.

Quintero-Martinez JA ，Hindy JR ，Michelena HI ，DeSimone DC ，Baddour LM ... -  《-》

Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Treatment of Infective Endocarditis With Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

Chen J ，Lu S ，Hu K ，Yang Z ，Pan S ，Hong T ，Wang C ... -  《-》

Comparative study of bicuspid vs. tricuspid aortic valve stenosis.

To examine differences and similarities in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) stenosis occurring during the same age and whether any differences impact outcomes following aortic valve replacement (AVR). An age-matched cohort of 198 BAV stenosis and 198 TAV stenosis patients was identified from 888 consecutive patients undergoing AVR for severe AS. Mean age 68 ± 6 years; 68% male. Patients with BAV were less likely to have multiple comorbidities, as measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) >2 (3 vs. 10%, P = 0.007). Indexed aortic valve area (0.44 ± 0.09 vs. 0.42 ± 0.08 cm2/m2, P = 0.17) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were similar (62 ± 11 vs. 61 ± 12%, P = 0.12), but E/e' ≥15 (46 vs. 66%, P = 0.0002) was less common in BAV stenosis. A tissue aortic valve prosthesis was more commonly utilized in both groups (81 vs. 78%, P = 0.54). Overall indexed effective orifice area was larger in BAV compared with TAV (1.08 ± 0.33 vs. 0.96 ± 0.25 cm2/m2, P = 0.0008). Five-year survival following AVR was lower in TAV compared with BAV stenosis (61 vs. 79%, P = 0.02). Independent predictors of survival following AVR were LVEF < 50% [hazard ratio (HR): 4.8, P = 0.0005], CCI > 2 (HR: 3.1, P = 0.015), effective orifice area index ≤0.85 cm2/m2 (HR: 2.5, P = 0.004), and bioprosthesis (HR: 3.7, P = 0.02). In an age-matched cohort, TAV compared with BAV stenosis is associated with greater prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac impairment and worse survival after AVR.

Huntley GD ，Thaden JJ ，Alsidawi S ，Michelena HI ，Maleszewski JJ ，Edwards WD ，Scott CG ，Pislaru SV ，Pellikka PA ，Greason KL ，Ammash NM ，Malouf JF ，Enriquez-Sarano M ，Nkomo VT ... -  《-》