[Functional and morphologic changes of left ventricular myocardium in the course of aortic valve disease]

Wiad Lek. 1992 Oct;45(19-20):759-63.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

The mortality of patients with aortic valve disease is growing significantly from the time of manifestation of features of left ventricular heart failure. Probably, the causes of that situation are the irreversible changes in the myocardium. During the first, asymptomatic stage of aortic valve disease, the increase of preload and afterload is compensated by myocardial hypertrophy, concentric or eccentric respectively. The global heart function as a pump remains normal, in spite of decreased contractility of individual sarcomeres. Valve replacement at that stage of the disease gives the best effects, being the causal treatment. After having used up the compensation possibilities, of the myocardium, the features develop of left ventricular heart failure. The mortality of patients operated on in that stage of the disease is high. Valve replacement is often a palliative method.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve*
  • Cardiac Output, Low / etiology*
  • Heart Valve Diseases / complications
  • Heart Valve Diseases / mortality
  • Humans
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Survival Rate
  • Ventricular Function, Left / physiology