Although aortic regurgitation imposes a volume load on the leftventricle, it became clear more than two decades ago that theresulting large stroke volume and wide pulse pressure also leadto systolic hypertension and concomitant left ventricular pressureoverload.1,2 In fact, afterload is much higher in aortic regurgitationthan in mitral regurgitation and may be as high as that in themore typically recognized pressure overload of aortic stenosis.3The excess afterload in aortic regurgitation, in turn, formsthe basis for the idea that afterload-reducing agents, suchas vasodilators, might be beneficial in the medical treatmentof this disease.
From the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine both in Houston.
This article has been cited by other articles:
Hess, P. J. Jr, Harman, P. K., Klodell, C. T., Beaver, T. M., Bologna, M. T., Mikhail, P., Tribble, C. G., Martin, T. D.
(2009). Early Outcomes Using the Florida Sleeve Repair for Correction of Aortic Insufficiency due to Root Aneurysms. Ann. Thorac. Surg.
87: 1161-1169
[Abstract][Full Text]
Plante, E., Lachance, D., Beaudoin, J., Champetier, S., Roussel, E., Arsenault, M., Couet, J.
(2009). Comparative Study of Vasodilators in an Animal Model of Chronic Volume Overload Caused by Severe Aortic Regurgitation. Circ Heart Fail
2: 25-32
[Abstract][Full Text]
Schelbert, E B, Vaughan-Sarrazin, M S, Welke, K F, Rosenthal, G E
(2008). Valve type and long-term outcomes after aortic valve replacement in older patients. Heart
94: 1181-1188
[Abstract][Full Text]
Maurer, G.
(2006). Aortic regurgitation.. Heart
92: 994-1000
[Full Text]
Takagi, H., Umemoto, T., Krasuski, R. A., Griffin, B. P., Afshinnia, F., Rahimtoola, S. H., Evangelista, A., Tornos, P., Permanyer-Miralda, G.
(2006). Vasodilators in Aortic Regurgitation. NEJM
354: 300-303
[Full Text]