Left ventricular hypertrophy and remodeling after aortic valve replacement.

Left ventricular geometric remodeling and regression of hypertrophy were assessed after aortic valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis in 37 patients with aortic stenosis and 39 with aortic insufficiency, aged 54.2 +/- 14.3 and 52.6 +/- 16.6 years, respectively. The follow-up period was 2 years. In patients with aortic insufficiency, ejection fraction increased from 54.4 +/- 3.5 preoperatively to 59.6 +/- 3.4 after 6 months and 61.7 +/- 2.7 after 2 years. In patients with aortic stenosis, ejection fraction increased from 56.6 +/- 5.1 preoperatively to 63.9 +/- 4.4 after 6 months and 71.7 +/- 4.1 after 2 years. Geometric remodeling, regression of hypertrophy, and increased ejection fraction of the left ventricle were similar in both groups at 6 months after surgery, but after 2 years of follow-up, greater improvement was found in patients who had undergone valve replacement for aortic stenosis.