Echocardiography Findings in Patients With Myocardial Fibrosis and Severe Aortic Stenosis

Correlations Between Biopsy Verified Myocardial Fibrosis and Echocardiography Parameters in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis

Patients with aortic stenosis waiting for aortic valve repair were investigated with echocardiography preoperatively, and a myocardial biospy was taken during the operation. The investigators aim to perform a retrospective analysis of these data, to look for correlations between biopsy-verified myocardial fibrosis and echocardiography parameters.

The patients also had cardiac magnetic resonance imaging performed, for a non-invasive quantification of myocardial fibrosis.

The primary purpose of the study is to retrospectively compare echocardiography measurements with a myocardial biopsy taken perioperatively in patients with aortic stenosis requiring aortic valve replacement.

Echocardiography and endomyocardial biopsy have been performed in close proximity in time. Due to a small sample size and a large number of echocardiography measurements being possible, only a limited number of prespecified comparisons are performed.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was also performed in patients without contraindication, providing a non-invasive gold standard for diffuse fibrosis and replacement fibrosis. A secondary goal will be to investigate how echocardiography parameters performs compared to CMR in quantifying myocardial fibrosis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Planned for aortic valve replacement for symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous myocardial infarction / coronary disease that can cause fibrosis
• Do not wish to participate in study