View clinical trials related to Bicuspid Aortic Valve.
Filter by:In order to determine the effectiveness of medical therapy options to prevent enlargement of the aorta in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve, a randomized study will be planned. This feasibility study will gather accurate data on number needed to screen, changes in medication use over time, and variance of the intended study endpoint.
Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart malformation in adults, but very little is known about the genetic causes or risk factors for adverse outcomes. Currently, it is estimated that most cases of aortic stenosis in patients less than 65 years old are caused by BAVs. BAV patients are also at high risk to develop aneurysms of the ascending aorta, which may lead to aortic dissections. Dr. Prakash and his colleagues plan to use individual genetic information to identify persons with BAV who are at high risk for complications and to customize therapies.
The study aim is: 1. To examine aortic tissue by light microscopy 2. To examine aortic tissue by electron microscopy 3. To study changes in the epigenome and transcriptome of the X chromosome specific to aortic tissue. 4. To examine aortic tissue using biochemistry including proteomics. 5. To establish the karyotype of fibroblasts with standard chromosome examination on 10 meta-phases as well as by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes covering the X and Y chromosome. Using the latter 200 meta-phases will be examined. 30 controls who did not die from aortic dissection or dilation will be recruited from The Department of Forensic Medicine at Aarhus University Hospital. The investigators will subject samples of aortic tissue from women undergoing prophylactic aortic surgery due to either Marfan syndrome or bicuspid aortic valve to the same panel of examinations (except karyotyping). Lastly the investigators will compare the results from the three groups (Turner syndrome, Marfan syndrome and Bicuspid aortic valve).
The purpose of this registry is to gather information on patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease.
The specific aims of this study are to: - Establish baseline levels of circulating MMP-2 and -9 , TIMP-1and- 2 and TGFB levels in individuals with bicuspid aortic valve and ascending aortic or aortic sinus measurements >40mm. - Assess the effect on MMP levels during treatment with losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocking agent. - In the setting of losartan therapy for one year, evaluate the response of MMP levels in these patients, and clinical outcomes including effects on aortic growth rate
BAVgenetics is a partnership between Investigators at Boston University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital dedicated to discovering the genetic causes of bicuspid aortic valve disease and associated aortic disease.
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a form of congenital heart disease (the person is born with it). With BAV, the heart valves in the aorta (the blood vessel that takes blood away from the heart to the body) are not formed right. A person with BAV has only 2 leaflets instead of three and the valve leaflets are often thickened. This can result in the block of blood flow across the valve (aortic stenosis) and/or valve leakage (aortic valve regurgitation). From our experience at least 1/3 of patients with BAV will eventually develop complications. Many patients with BAV do not develop significant problems until well into adulthood. The most common problem in BAV patients is aortic dilatation and/or dissection. At this point, we do not know on who or why aortic dilatation or dissection occurs.It is unclear whether the enlargement is because of abnormal blood flow patterns, as a result of the shape of the bicuspid valve, or whether it is because the way the aortic valve and/or vessel is formed. In other words, the abnormal shape of the aortic valve may cause blood to flow in a different way than it normally would, causing damage to the aorta as blood leaves the heart. There may be a problem with the way the aortic valve connects to the aorta, which causes the aorta to get larger or break down over time. It is also possible that the wall of the aorta in patients with BAV is weaker than it would be in patients without BAV. At this point, we do not know. It is believed by the investigators that if we can determine why the aorta gets larger or tears, we can minimize the effects or prevent them altogether. This study will collect blood and cardiac MRI images from forty-five (45) patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston. There will be a study group (patients with BAV) and a control group of patients (patients scheduled for a cardiac MRI but without BAV). All enrolled patients will have blood drawn by nursing staff from a peripheral vein and collected in tubes for testing the day of their MRI scan. This test is called a plasma matrix metalloproteinase level. It is believed that patients who have bicuspid aortic valves and dilated aortas have high plasma levels of this protein. This study will compare the MRI images and plasma matrix protein levels of all the patients participating in the study.