Physiologic changes with maximal exercise in asymptomatic valvular aortic stenosis assessed by Doppler echocardiography

Objectives. We hypothesized that the physiologic response to exercise in valvular aortic stenosis could be measured by Doppler echocardlography. Background. Data on exercise hemodynamics in patlents with aortic stenosis are limited, yet Doppler echocardiography provides accurate, noninvasive measures of stenosis severity. Methods. In 28 asymptomatic subjects with aortic stenosis maximal treadmill exercise testing was performed with Doppler recordings of left ventricular outflow tract and aortic jet velocities immediately before and after exercise. Maximal and mean volume flow rate (Qmax, and Qmean), stroke volume, cardiac output, maximal and mean aortic jet velocity (Vmax, Vmean), mean pressure gradient (ΔP) and continuity equation aortic valve area were calculated at rest and after exercise. The actual change from rest to exercise in Qmaxand Vmeanwas compared with the predicted relation between these variables for a given orifice area. Subjects were classified into two groups: Group I (rest-exercise Vmax/Qmeanslope 0, n = 19) and Group II (slope ≤0, n = 9). Results. Mean exercise duration was 6.7 ± 4.3 min. With exercise, Vmaxincreased from 3.99 ± 0.93 to 4.61 ± 1.12 m/s (p < 0,0001) and mean ΔP increased from 39 ± 20 to 52 ± 26 mm Hg (p < 0.0001). Qmaxrose with exercise (422 ± 117 to 523 ± 209 ml/s, p < 0.0001), but the systolic ejection period decreased (0.33 ± 0.04 to 0.24 ± 0.04, p < 0.0001), so that stroke volume decreased slightly (98 ± 29 to 89 ± 32 ml, p = 0.01). The increase in cardiac output with exercise (6.5 ± 1.7 to 10.2 ± 4.4 liters/min, p < 0.0001) was mediated by increased heart rate (71 ± 17 to 147 ± 28 beats/min, p < 0.0001). There was no significant change in the mean aortic valve area with exercise (1.17 ± 0.45 to 1.28 ± 0.65, p = 0.06). Compared with Group I patients, patients with a rest-exercise slope ≤0 (Group D) tended to be older (69 ± 12 vs. 58 ± 19 years, p = 0.07) and had a trend toward a shorter exercise duration (5.3 ± 2.9 vs. 7.3 ± 4.9 min, p = 0.20). There was no difference between groups for heart rate at rest, blood pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, Vmax, mean /gDP or aortic valve area. With exercise, Group II subjects had a lower cardiac output (7.4 ± 2.4 vs. 11.5 ± 4.6 liters/min, p = 0.005) and a smaller percent increase in Vmax(3 ± 9% vs. 22 ± 14%, p < 0.0001). Conclusions. Doppler echocardiography allows assessment of physiologic changes with exercise in adults with asymptomatic aortic stenosis. A majority of