The neural crest as a possible pathogenetic factor in coarctation of the aorta and bicuspid aortic valve.

Patients (n = 109) operated on for coarctation of the aorta were analyzed for occurrence of associated cardiac and noncardiac anomalies. Attention was also paid to the prevalence of cardiac anomalies in the relatives of these patients. Of the patients with coarctation of the aorta, 57 (52%) had a bicuspid aortic valve. Forty-three (39%) of the 109 patients had one or more noncardiac anomalies. In 29 (27%) patients the noncardiac anomaly involved the head/neck structures. Noncardiac anomalies were much more prevalent in patients with coarctation and bicuspid aortic valve, especially anomalies involving the head/neck structures: 44% compared to 8% of patients with a normal aortic valve. Congenital cardiac malformations were present in relatives in the first or second degree of 18% of the patients. Bicuspid aortic valve was more prevalent in patients with an affected relative (75%) than in patients with unaffected relatives (47%). Recent studies showed that the neural crest plays an important role in the development of cardiac and a variety of noncardiac structures. The cardiac structures derived from the neural crest involve the outflow tract of the heart and the aortic arch system. Maldevelopment of neural crest cells could therefore be responsible for the combined occurrence of outflow tract (e.g., bicuspid aortic valve), aortic arch (e.g., coarctation), and noncardiac anomalies. This study supports the concept that some anomalies of the aortic arch system, including aortic coarctation, are cardiovascular manifestations of a spectrum of anomalies involving the head and neck region that may be due to a genetic-environmental disorder of the neural crest.