Bicuspid aortic stenosis laboratory tests

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S. [2]; Usama Talib, BSc, MD [3]

Overview

Laboratory tests such as lipid profile, BNP levels and blood studies help in assessing the progress and outcomes of bicuspid aortic stenosis.

As hypercholesterolemia is one of the risk factors that accelerates the stenotic process via calcification, serum cholesterol levels should be tested which could aid in recommending dietary modifications or medications.
- Total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or fasting lipid panel should be measured in children over 3 years of age.
- Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) may accelerate sclerosis of the bicuspid aortic valve.^[1]
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) may aid in assessing the cardiac function of patients with asymptomatic severe bicuspid aortic stenosis.^[2]. Rising levels of BNP predicts the need for valve surgery in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. It may also provide important prognostic information on postoperative outcomes.^[3]
Complete blood count with peripheral smear may reveal hemolytic anemia with schistocytes secondary to mechanical trauma to RBCs from calcified bicuspid valves.

↑ Chui MC, Newby DE, Panarelli M, Bloomfield P, Boon NA (2001). “Association between calcific aortic stenosis and hypercholesterolemia: is there a need for a randomized controlled trial of cholesterol-lowering therapy?”. Clinical Cardiology. 24 (1): 52–5. PMID 11195607. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Bergler-Klein J (2009). “Natriuretic peptides in the management of aortic stenosis”. Current Cardiology Reports. 11 (2): 85–93. PMID 19236823. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Bergler-Klein J, Klaar U, Heger M, Rosenhek R, Mundigler G, Gabriel H, Binder T, Pacher R, Maurer G, Baumgartner H (2004). “Natriuretic peptides predict symptom-free survival and postoperative outcome in severe aortic stenosis”. Circulation. 109 (19): 2302–8. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000126825.50903.18. PMID 15117847. Retrieved 2012-04-11. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)