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Detection and Prediction of Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Degeneration.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Cartlidge, Timothy RG 
Doris, Mhairi K 
Sellers, Stephanie L 
Pawade, Tania A 
White, Audrey C 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bioprosthetic aortic valve degeneration is increasingly common, often unheralded, and can have catastrophic consequences. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to assess whether 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) can detect bioprosthetic aortic valve degeneration and predict valve dysfunction. METHODS: Explanted degenerate bioprosthetic valves were examined ex vivo. Patients with bioprosthetic aortic valves were recruited into 2 cohorts with and without prosthetic valve dysfunction and underwent in vivo contrast-enhanced CT angiography, 18F-fluoride PET, and serial echocardiography during 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: All ex vivo, degenerate bioprosthetic valves displayed 18F-fluoride PET uptake that colocalized with tissue degeneration on histology. In 71 patients without known bioprosthesis dysfunction, 14 had abnormal leaflet pathology on CT, and 24 demonstrated 18F-fluoride PET uptake (target-to-background ratio 1.55 [interquartile range (IQR): 1.44 to 1.88]). Patients with increased 18F-fluoride uptake exhibited more rapid deterioration in valve function compared with those without (annualized change in peak transvalvular velocity 0.30 [IQR: 0.13 to 0.61] vs. 0.01 [IQR: -0.05 to 0.16] ms-1/year; p < 0.001). Indeed 18F-fluoride uptake correlated with deterioration in all the conventional echocardiographic measures of valve function assessed (e.g., change in peak velocity, r = 0.72; p < 0.001). Each of the 10 patients who developed new overt bioprosthesis dysfunction during follow-up had evidence of 18F-fluoride uptake at baseline (target-to-background ratio 1.89 [IQR: 1.46 to 2.59]). On multivariable analysis, 18F-fluoride uptake was the only independent predictor of future bioprosthetic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-fluoride PET-CT identifies subclinical bioprosthetic valve degeneration, providing powerful prediction of subsequent valvular dysfunction and highlighting patients at risk of valve failure. This technique holds major promise in the diagnosis of valvular degeneration and the surveillance of patients with bioprosthetic valves. (18F-Fluoride Assessment of Aortic Bioprosthesis Durability and Outcome [18F-FAABULOUS]; NCT02304276).

Description

Keywords

aortic valve replacement, bioprosthetic valve degeneration, calcification, histology, positron emission tomography, Aged, Aortic Valve, Aortic Valve Insufficiency, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Bioprosthesis, Calcinosis, Computed Tomography Angiography, Echocardiography, Female, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18, Heart Valve Prosthesis, Humans, Male, Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography, Postoperative Complications, Predictive Value of Tests, Prognosis, Prosthesis Failure, Radiopharmaceuticals

Journal Title

J Am Coll Cardiol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0735-1097
1558-3597

Volume Title

73

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
British Heart Foundation (None)
Academy of Medical Sciences (unknown)
British Heart Foundation (None)
Evelyn Trust (unknown)
Wellcome Trust (104492/Z/14/Z)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N014588/1)
Medical Research Council (MR/N028015/1)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (146281)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (unknown)