Objective: Aortic stenosis (AS) patients with eccentric hypertrophy (Ecc-LVH) have increased left ventricular (LV) size and possibly reduced ejection fraction (EF). However, previous studies suggest worse outcomes with concentric remodeling and hypertrophy. We hypothesized that Ecc-LVH pattern in AS patients will also be associated with greater heart failure (HF) and all-cause mortality (ACM). Methods: We queried the electronic medical record from a community-based university practice for all AS patients. We included patients with >60 days follow-up and interpretable Doppler echocardiograms. We recorded demographics, Doppler-echo parameters, laboratories, HF readmission and ACM with follow-up to 2083 days. There were 329 patients divided into 4 groups based on the presence of LV hypertrophy (LVH) and relative wall thickness (RWT) by echocardiography. Ecc-LVH had RWT<0.43 and LVH. Results: Patients with severe AS were older, had greater coronary disease prevalence, lower hemoglobin, greater LV mass index, more abnormal diastolic function, greater HF and ACM. Multivariate Cox proportional analysis revealed that valvulo-arterial impedance (p=0.017) and Ecc-LVH (p=0.033) were HF predictors. Brain natriuretic peptide>100 pg/ml (p<0.001) and Ecc-LVH (p=0.019) were ACM predictors. ACM was increased in Ecc-LVH patients with both moderate (HR=3.67-8.18 vs other geometries, p=0.007-0.0007) and severe AS (HR=3.94-9.48 vs normal and concentric remodeling, p=0.0002). In patients with HF, Ecc-LVH was associated with greater HF in moderate AS vs normal geometry (HR=3.28, p=0.0135) and concentric remodeling (HR=2.66, p=0.0472). Conclusions: Patients with AS and Ecc-LVH have greater ACM than other LV geometries with both moderate and severe AS and greater HF in moderate AS.

Le rétrécissement aortique calcifié (RAC) est une maladie calcifiante de la valve aortique caractérisée par un remodelage fibro-calcique lentement progressif des feuillets valvulaires, et par un remodelage du ventricule gauche (VG). Il n’existe à ce jour aucun traitement pharmacologique capable de prévenir la maladie, et le seul traitement consiste en un remplacement valvulaire chirurgical ou percutané. Les objectifs de cette thèse étaient d’identifier des déterminants de la progression du RAC et du remodelage VG, d’étudier une nouvelle modalité d’évaluation de la sévérité du RAC, et d’analyser par une approche expérimentale les mécanismes initiateurs de la calcification valvulaire aortique. Les résultats de ce travail peuvent être résumés comme suit : - Le taux plasmatique de galectine-3 n’était pas associé au degré de sévérité du RAC ou au statut fonctionnel des patients. La galectine-3 n’avait pas de valeur pronostique sur la survenue d'événements liés au RAC. Les résultats observés sont en défaveur de l'utilisation de ce biomarqueur au cours de la prise en charge des patients ayant un RAC asymptomatique. - Dans une cohorte prospective de patients ayant un RAC au moins minime, le volume de graisse épicardique était indépendamment associé à un remodelage péjoratif du VG. Ce résultat suggère que la graisse épicardique pourrait être un déterminant du remodelage pathologique du VG via une interaction locale. - L’utilisation de l’imagerie de fusion a entrainé une augmentation du taux de discordance entre les paramètres de sévérité du RAC. Ce résultat était plus marqué chez les patients ayant une valve aortique bicuspide. Au regard de la classification et des seuils définissant actuellement la sévérité du RAC, et du fait de leur valeur pronostique bien démontrée, les résultats de cette étude sont en défaveur de l'utilisation de l’imagerie de fusion pour évaluer la sévérité du RAC. - L’accumulation dans le feuillet valvulaire aortique d’érythrocytes sénescents, suite à la survenue de lésions endothéliales non cicatrisées, constitue une situation délétère favorisant la différenciation des cellules valvulaires interstitielles vers un phénotype ostéoblastique et in fine le dépôt de calcium conduisant au RAC. La physiopathologie d’initiation des calcifications valvulaires et de progression du RAC est complexe et multifactorielle. La découverte de cibles thérapeutiques potentielles et l’optimisation de la prise en charge des patients ayant un RAC nécessite de combiner des études cliniques pour identifier les déterminants de la progression et de la réponse myocardique au cours du RAC, et une approche fondamentale pour caractériser les mécanismes impliqués dans la maladie. / Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) is characterized by a slowly progressive fibrocalcific remodeling of aortic valve leaflets, and by a left ventricular (LV) remodeling. There is currently no effective medical treatment capable of preventing disease progression, and the only treatment is surgical or percutaneous valve replacement. The objectives of this thesis were to identify determinants of AS progression and LV remodeling, to study a new modality of evaluation of AS severity, and to analyze through an experimental approach the initiating mechanisms of valve calcification. The results of this work can be summarized as follows: - The plasmatic level of galectin-3 was not associated with the degree of AS severity or the functional status of patients. Galectin-3 had no prognostic value for the occurrence of AS-related events. The results observed are not in favor of the use of this biomarker for the management of patients with asymptomatic AS. - In a prospective cohort of patients with at least mild AS, epicardial fat volume was independently associated with an adverse remodeling of the LV. This result suggests that epicardial fat may be a determinant of pathological LV remodeling through a local interaction. - The use of fusion imaging increased the rate of discordant AS severity parameters. This result was more pronounced in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve. Considering current classification and thresholds defining AS severity, and their well-proven prognostic value, the results of this study do not favor the use of fusion imaging to assess AS severity. - The accumulation of senescent erythrocytes in aortic valve leaflets, consecutive to unhealed endothelial injury, is a noxious condition that promotes the differentiation of valvular interstitial cells towards an osteoblastic phenotype and favor calcium deposition leading to AS. The pathophysiology of initiation of valvular calcification and AS progression is complex and multifactorial. The discovery of potential therapeutic targets and the optimization of the management of patients with AS require the combination of clinical studies to identify the determinants of AS progression and myocardial response, and a fundamental approach to characterize mechanisms involved in the disease.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第20231号 / 医博第4190号 / 新制||医||1019(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 湊谷 謙司, 教授 山下 潤, 教授 川村 孝 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第21652号 / 医博第4458号 / 新制||医||1035(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 川村 孝, 教授 福原 俊一, 教授 佐藤 俊哉 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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Both hypertrophied and failing hearts are characterised by pathological left ventricular (LV) remodelling, impaired myocardial energy status and alteration in substrate metabolism. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) are powerful tools in the characterisation of these disease conditions. More recent techniques have allowed assessment of myocardial steatosis using ¹H-MRS and tissue oxygenation using blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) CMR. In hypertrophy and heart failure, studies on steatosis and the relationship with other parameters such as myocardial function and fibrosis, especially in humans are limited. I therefore investigated the presence of steatosis in severe aortic stenosis (AS) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and further assessed its relation to contractile function. This study found that myocardial triglyceride (TG) content is increased in both symptomatic and asymptomatic AS patients (lipid/water ratio 0.89±0.42% in symptomatic AS; 0.75±0.36% in asymptomatic AS vs. controls 0.45±0.17%, both p<0.05) and DCM patients (lipid/ratio 0.64±0.44% vs. controls 0.40±0.13%, p=0.03). Circumferential strain was lower in both AS (-16.4±2.5% in symptomatic AS; -18.9±2.9% in asymptomatic AS vs. controls 20.7±2.0%, both p<0.05) and DCM patients (-12.3±3.4% vs. controls -20.9±1.7%, p<0.001). In AS, myocardial contractility is related to the degree of steatosis, and were both reversible following aortic valve replacement (AVR), lipid/water ratio 0.92±0.41% vs. pre AVR 0.45±0.17%, p=0.04 and circumferential strain -17.2±2.0% vs. pre AVR -19.5±3.2%, p=0.04. A novel finding of this study was significant correlation of MRS-measured TG content with histological staining of TG of the myocardium, taken from endomyocardial biopsy during AVR. In DCM, myocardial TG was independently associated with LV dilatation and correlated significantly with hepatic TG, which suggests that both cardiac and hepatic steatosis might be a common feature in the failing heart. Additionally, although the hypertrophied heart is characterised by impaired perfusion, it is unknown if this is severe enough to translate into tissue deoxygenation and ischaemia. I assessed this by using adenosine vasodilator stress test and BOLD-CMR in patients with severe AS. It was found that AS patients had reduced perfusion (myocardial perfusion reserve index-MPRI 1.0±0.3 vs. controls 1.7±0.3, p<0.001), and blunted tissue oxygenation (blood-oxygen level dependent-BOLD signal intensity-SI change 4.8±9.6% vs. controls 18.2±11.6%, p=0.001) during stress. Importantly, there was a substantial improvement in perfusion and oxygenation towards normal after AVR, MPRI 1.5±0.4, p=0.005 vs. pre AVR and BOLD SI change 16.4±7.0%, p=0.014 vs. pre AVR. Overall, the work in this thesis supports the powerful role of CMR in assessing LV function and elucidating metabolic mechanisms in the hypertrophied and failing heart.

The overall aim of this thesis is to explore experiences and self-reported outcomes from Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation, TAVI, among people with severe aortic stenosis. The thesis includes four studies. Study I-II are based on interviews performed the day before TAVI and Qualitative Concept Analysis was used for analysis. Study III is based on interviews at six months’ follow-up and Grounded Theory was used for analysis. Study IV is quantitative and based on questionnaires at baseline and at six months’ follow-up. Nonparametric, descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. Study I described the vulnerable situation for patients with severe aortic stenosis before TAVI. They were facing death and at the same time struggling to cope with their symptoms and to maintain independent. TAVI offered hope but also caused uncertainty about the new method. Study II focused on the patients’ decision-making process. Three patterns were identified; ambivalent, obedient, and reconciled. The ambivalent patient is unsure of the value of treatment and aware of the risks; the obedient patient is unsure of the value of one's own decision and wants to leave the decision to others; the reconciled patient has reached a point where there is no choice anymore and is always sure that the decision to undergo TAVI is right. Study III offered a deeper understanding of the TAVI trajectory. A journey of balancing between hope and life-struggle was the core category of the analysis. Before TAVI patients felt threatened, but also experienced hope. The rehabilitation phase was described as demanding and depressing or surprisingly simple. At the six months’ followup patients described being pleased to return to life, however, many were still struggling with limitations. Study IV focused on quantifying the symptom burden, function and health related quality of life before and after TAVI. The results were reflected against that of patients treated with open surgery. Self-rated function and health related quality of life increased and symptoms were reduced at follow-up, but breathlessness and fatigue were still common. Conclusively, TAVI patients are struggling with limitations, both because of their comorbidities and because of their valve disease which also poses a threat to their lives. TAVI gives an opportunity to survive, to stay independent and to increase quality of life. To feel and preserve hope is essential for patients’ wellbeing, both before and during the recovery process.

Symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) is an increasing phenomenon as more adults live longer. The gold standard for treating AS is surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Frequently, as older individuals with AS often have multiple comorbidities, a SAVR is determined to be too high risk. Therefore, a less invasive treatment option is available, namely a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Such biomedical procedures have encouraged life extension and the decision to intervene commonplace with the aging population. Without an intervention, significant debilitating symptoms affect a person's quality of life (QoL). Multiple quantitative studies evaluating QoL before and after a TAVI have been performed. However QoL has multiple attributes and is not a single construct. By limiting practice to these defined QoL measures, we exclude the human experience and what values individuals describe as important to them. The dilemma in the present medical model is influenced by two paradigms, evidence based medicine and patient centered medicine. Some people opt not to have a TAVI. This study aims to understand what it is like living with aortic stenosis as perceived by the participant and to gain a more meaningful understanding of why some individuals with AS choose not to have this procedure performed. Using a convenience sample of patients who declined a TAVI, a telephone interview with the person focused on their perceived QoL and the implications determining not to pursue a TAVI. In this qualitative phenomenological design, open-ended questions included: 1) What is it like to live with Aortic Stenosis. 2) Why did you choose not to have the TAVI? Interviews will explore emerging themes. Advanced practice nurses are in ideal positions for performing research to gain greater insight on the complexity of people's health choices. As the incidence of AS occurs more frequently in the increasing aged population, TAVI offers a treatment option for those patients who are symptomatic with AS and are not surgical candidates. However, health care providers should focus on the illness, not the disease, and explore the patients' biopsychosocial values with their medical needs. The information gathered in this study will help guide heath care providers with offering holistic health care incorporating both paradigms of evidence based practice and patient centered medicine options on treatment for people with symptomatic AS.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a morfologia e a ultraestrutura da hiperplasia intimal arterial decorrente de um modelo de estenose aórtica experimental, através da inserção de um pino de acrílico no orifício da artéria renal esquerda. Realizamos um estudo morfológico e ultraestrutural em 64 ratos Wistar, machos, com peso médio de 250 g, divididos em 4 subgrupos de acordo com o dia da eutanásia (1, 7, 15 e 30 dias de pós-operatório). O segmento da aorta envolvendo o pino foi retirado e estudado com diferentes protocolos para: microscopia óptica de alta resolução, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e de varredura. Uma trombose se formou ao redor do pino 24 horas após a cirurgia, mostrando sinais de organização com 7 dias. Com 15 dias, uma hiperplasia intimal adjacente à base do pino foi visualizada. Esta alteração permaneceu com 30 dias de pós-operatório. Este espessamento era caracterizado principalmente por células musculares lisas provenientes da camada muscular média. A obstrução gera alterações hemodinâmicas locais com repercussão sobre as células endoteliais localizadas próximas à base do pino. Esses achados são discutidos. / Objective: To study the light and electron microscopy of intimal hyperplasia induced by experimental aortic stenosis after insertion of a plug into the aorta through the left renal artery. Methods: Sixty-four Wistar male rats, weighing an average of 250g, were allocated into two groups: group control, sham-operated, and group experimental, operated. The animals were killed on days 1, 7, 15, and 30 after surgery. The fragments of aorta implicating the plug were excised and studied using high resolution light microcopy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Results and Conclusions: A thrombus was observed around the plug 24 hours after surgery, organized at day 7. An intimal hyperplasia could be observed closed to the basis of the plug 15 and 30 days after surgery. The intimal thickening detected was mainly composed of smooth muscle cells migrated from the medial layer of the aorta intermixed with extracellular matrix. Moreover, the endothelial cells around the plug lost their orientation. Theses findings are discussed.