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Review
. 2015 Jan-Mar;25(1):9-18.
doi: 10.4103/2211-4122.158418.

The Role of Multimodality Cardiac Imaging for the Assessment of Sports Eligibility in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Antonello D'Andrea  1 , Alessandro Della Corte  2 , Roberto Padalino  1 , Giuseppe Limongelli  1 , Raffaella Scarafile  1 , Fiorella Fratta  1 , Enrica Pezzullo  1 , Adelaide Fusco  1 , Francesca Pisacane  1 , Guido Coppola  1 , Pio Caso  1 , Raffaele Calabrò  1 , Maria Giovanna Russo  1
Affiliations
Review

The Role of Multimodality Cardiac Imaging for the Assessment of Sports Eligibility in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Antonello D'Andrea et al. J Cardiovasc Echogr. 2015 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) cannot be considered an innocent finding, but it is not necessarily a life-threatening condition. Athletes with BAV should undergo a thorough staging of the valve anatomy, taking into consideration hemodynamic factors, as well as aortic diameters and looking for other associated significant cardiovascular anomalies by use of a multimodality cardiac imaging approach. Furthermore an accurate follow-up is mandatory with serial cardiological controls in those allowed to continue sports.

Keywords: Athlete's heart; bicuspid aortic valve; cardiac magnetic resonance; computed tomography; echocardiography; endurance; multimodality imaging; power; sports training.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Anatomic classification of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). L = Left, R = Right, N = Noncoronary, lat = Lateral, ap = Anteroposterior
Figure 2
Figure 2
Transthoracic echocardiography in uncomplicated type 1 BAV. Aortic short-axis view (a), mild aortic regurgitation (b), normal ascending aorta diameters (c), and absence of significant aortic stenosis (d)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in complicated type 1 BAV. Aortic short-axis view (a), parasternal long-axis view with ascending aorta aneurism (b), and three-dimensional reconstruction of aortic valve (c-d)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Aortic computed tomography in complicated type 1 BAV. Aortic short-axis view (a), and long-axis (b) with ascending aorta aneurism
Figure 5
Figure 5
Aortic magnetic resonance in uncomplicated type 1 BAV. Aortic short-axis view (a), and long-axis (b) with mild eccentric regurgitation jet
Figure 6
Figure 6
Aortic magnetic resonance in type 1 BAV with complete (a) and uncomplete (b) raphe
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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