[Relationships between hemodynamic values with prognostic significance and morphology of the left ventricle in patients with aortic insufficiency].

Hemodynamic parameters have recently been described which are of prognostic importance for the outcome of valve replacement in patients with aortic insufficiency. It was investigated whether pathological values for the left ventricular end-systolic volume index, the ejection fraction, the end-diastolic radius/wall thickness ratio, the end-systolic diameter (DS) and shortening of the diameter (Sh), and the end-diastolic volume index are accompanied by morphological alterations evaluated from left ventricular endomyocardial biopsies. Hypertrophy of the cardiac fibers was significantly increased in patients in whom preoperative Sh was less than 25% and DS greater than 55 mm. In contrast, left ventricular interstitial fibrosis did not differ between these patients and those with Sh greater than or equal to 25% and DS less than or equal to 55 mm.