285 – Transposition of the great arteries is associated with increased ascending aorta stiffness

BackgroundTransposition of the great arteries (TGA) is the consequences of abnormal aorticopulmonary septation. Animal embryonic data indicate that septation and elastogenesis are related events. It was showed that carotid artery is markedly and constitutionally stiffer in patients with TGA.Objectiveto assess aortic dimensions and aortic elasticity in patients with TGA using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsMRI was performed in 29 patients with simple TGA operated by an atrial switch procedure (22 male; mean age 29 ± 4 years) and 29 age and gender-matched healthy subjects.ResultsTGA patients showed aortic root dilatation (7.7±2.1 vs 6.2±1.2cm∑, p = 0, 0018, in systole, and 6.8±2.1 vs 5.0±1.2cm∑, p = 0.0003, in diastole, at tubular level), reduced aortic root distension (13.5±5.9 vs 24.3±11.7, p