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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Mild Thickening of Aortic Valve Cusp (NCC)
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Mild Thickening of Aortic Valve Cusp (NCC)
by osiag, Sep 20, 2005 12:00AM
I’m a 37 yr old male. No known medical conditions other than trivial/mild aortic regurg. The AR was found incidentally in 2001 while investigating a systolic murmur that turned out to be a benign flow murmur. AR has been followed with yearly echos for the last 5 years. No progression noted. I recently moved and went to a new Cardiologist. The new dr. performed an echo and also rates the AR as trivial/mild.
The new dr. found mild thickening of the NCC, but noted no stenosis; and measures the opening of the AV at 2.1 cm (normal range 1.5 – 2.5 cm). The former dr. never mentioned thickening, but like the new dr. also always noted no that there was no stenosis. The former dr. never measured the opening of the AV, but measured peak velocity at 1.8.
How consequential is the new finding of mild thickening of NCC? Could it have been there during the 5 years the old dr. performed echos? Consider: All dimensions are normal. AV is NOT bicuspid. New dr. gave stress test with the echo (to be ultra thorough he said). I exercised for 19+ mins and maintained the 7th level of the Bruce protocol for 1 min 36 secs. Before exercise HR = 52, BP = 120/80, and EF = 70%. At peak exercise HR = 186 (102%) and BP = 188/60. After exercise EF = 82%. Normal wall motion. I eat healthy, exercise, and cholesterol is always < 155. Family history of early MI.
The new dr. found mild thickening of the NCC, but noted no stenosis; and measures the opening of the AV at 2.1 cm (normal range 1.5 – 2.5 cm). The former dr. never mentioned thickening, but like the new dr. also always noted no that there was no stenosis. The former dr. never measured the opening of the AV, but measured peak velocity at 1.8.
How consequential is the new finding of mild thickening of NCC? Could it have been there during the 5 years the old dr. performed echos? Consider: All dimensions are normal. AV is NOT bicuspid. New dr. gave stress test with the echo (to be ultra thorough he said). I exercised for 19+ mins and maintained the 7th level of the Bruce protocol for 1 min 36 secs. Before exercise HR = 52, BP = 120/80, and EF = 70%. At peak exercise HR = 186 (102%) and BP = 188/60. After exercise EF = 82%. Normal wall motion. I eat healthy, exercise, and cholesterol is always < 155. Family history of early MI.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, Sep 20, 2005 12:00AM
Hi Osiag,
How consequential is the new finding of mild thickening of NCC?
I wouldn't think much about it. It was probably there before and now you have someone new looking at.
That is a great exercise stress test and great results. With trace/mild AR and normal EF, no symptoms and normal aortic, you don't even need yearly echo's.
If you develop symptoms (unlikely for now), you should let your doctor know, but for now it sounds like you are in great shape.
Good luck and thanks for the post.
How consequential is the new finding of mild thickening of NCC?
I wouldn't think much about it. It was probably there before and now you have someone new looking at.
That is a great exercise stress test and great results. With trace/mild AR and normal EF, no symptoms and normal aortic, you don't even need yearly echo's.
If you develop symptoms (unlikely for now), you should let your doctor know, but for now it sounds like you are in great shape.
Good luck and thanks for the post.
Member Comments (1)
by aniljo66, Nov 07, 2009 01:13AM
A related discussion, Mild AR in echo test was started.
