Stefani L, Galanti G, Toncelli L, Manetti P, Vono M C, Rizzo M, Maffulli N
Sport Medicine Center, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Br J Sports Med. 2008 Jan;42(1):31-5; discussion 35. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2006.033530. Epub 2007 Jun 4.
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital cardiac condition. The presence of BAV in non-elite athletes has been poorly investigated; it is usually asymptomatic until valvular stenosis, regurgitation or other vascular alterations are evident.
Over a three-year period, 2273 competitive athletes were consecutively investigated with transthoracic echocardiography. The traditional parameters, the aortic root dimensions at four levels and the systolic and diastolic flow of aortic valve, were studied with continuous Doppler according to the echo guidelines.
The study protocol included all the non-elite athletes investigated for the first evaluation to obtain eligibility.
2273 competitive athletes aged 8-60 years from several sports and regularly trained were evaluated with anamnesis, clinical check-up and echocardiography in order to exclude subjects with systemic or congenital heart disease.
BAV was diagnosed in 58 athletes (2.5%). Of these, nine had normal valvular function, 47 had abnormal valvular function with mild-moderate aortic regurgitation, and two had moderate stenosis. Aortic root dimensions at all levels were significantly greater in athletes with BAV than in athletes with a normal tricuspid valve. No relation was found with age, body surface area, aortic regurgitation or years of training.
BAV is a relatively common congenital cardiac disease in athletes and commonly asymptomatic for a long time. This study suggests the usefulness of evaluating young athletes using echocardiography at least once when they start their sporting activity.
二叶式主动脉瓣（BAV）是一种常见的先天性心脏疾病。非精英运动员中BAV的情况研究较少；在瓣膜狭窄、反流或其他血管改变明显之前，通常无症状。
在三年时间里，对2273名竞技运动员连续进行经胸超声心动图检查。根据超声指南，用连续多普勒研究传统参数、四个水平的主动脉根部尺寸以及主动脉瓣的收缩期和舒张期血流。
研究方案包括所有接受首次评估以确定是否符合条件的非精英运动员。
对2273名年龄在8至60岁、来自多个运动项目且定期训练的竞技运动员进行了问诊、临床检查和超声心动图检查，以排除患有系统性或先天性心脏病的受试者。
58名运动员（2.5%）被诊断为BAV。其中，9名瓣膜功能正常，47名瓣膜功能异常，伴有轻度至中度主动脉反流，2名有中度狭窄。BAV运动员各水平的主动脉根部尺寸均显著大于三尖瓣正常的运动员。未发现与年龄、体表面积、主动脉反流或训练年限有关。
BAV在运动员中是一种相对常见的先天性心脏病，且长期通常无症状。本研究表明，在年轻运动员开始体育活动时，至少进行一次超声心动图评估是有用的。
