Assessment of Cardiac Damage in Aortic Stenosis.

Severe aortic stenosis (AS) causes chronic pressure overload of the left ventricle (LV), resulting in the progressive cardiac damage, which extends beyond the LV. Several previous studies have shown a relationship of the cardiac damage to AS, rather than the stenosis severity, with adverse events after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe AS. A new staging system for AS patients has important prognostic implications for clinical outcomes after AVR. This review summarizes the importance of assessment of cardiac damage in patients with AS.