Retinal Embolization of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Calcification

We report the case of a 36‐year‐old man with calcified bicuspid aorta. Aortic disease was diagnosed after retinal embolism, which caused loss of vision affecting the left eye. Doppler examination did not identify carotid stenosis. Transthoracic echocardiography showed thickness and calcification of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2004-08, Vol.21 (6), p.541-544
Main Authors: Palmiero, Pasquale, Maiello, Maria, Nanda, Navin C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
aortic calcification
Aortic Valve - diagnostic imaging
Aortic Valve - pathology
Aortic Valve - surgery
bicuspid aorta
Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging
Calcinosis - therapy
Echocardiography
Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
Embolization, Therapeutic
Heart Valve Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Heart Valve Diseases - therapy
Humans
Male
Mitral Valve - diagnostic imaging
Mitral Valve - pathology
Mitral Valve - surgery
retinal embolism
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Summary:We report the case of a 36‐year‐old man with calcified bicuspid aorta. Aortic disease was diagnosed after retinal embolism, which caused loss of vision affecting the left eye. Doppler examination did not identify carotid stenosis. Transthoracic echocardiography showed thickness and calcification of two leaflets, moderate aortic regurgitation, high normal left ventricular diastolic dimensions, and high normal interventricular septum thickness. Parasternal long‐axis view in the systolic frame showed dilated left ventricular outflow tract, dilated ascending aorta, and calcification and thickening of aortic leaflets, causing an echo‐lucent area, in the diastolic frame. It also showed the eccentric position of the closed valve leaflets, short axis in the diastolic frame, and the absence of the typical “Y” letter sign, tracked by the three leaflets (septal, right coronary, and left coronary) in the normal tricuspid aortic valve. On long‐axis parasternal acquisition, we note high normal interventricular septum thickness and high normal diastolic diameter. Color Doppler analysis from the apical five‐chamber view showed aortic regurgitation; regurgitant jet area was about 44% of the outflow tract, so aortic regurgitation was classified as moderate. Pulsed Doppler showed a high normal value of peak aortic velocity. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed, but no further findings were identified. We think that the likely retinal embolism sources were the aortic calcified leaflets, even if the aortic valve was not stenotic and with no signs of endocarditis. However, because we cannot exclude other potential causes, we put the patient on anticoagulant therapy. Furthermore, aortic valve replacement was not advised.
ISSN:0742-2822
1540-8175
DOI:10.1111/j.0742-2822.2004.02166.x