A POSSIBLE RELATION BETWEEN PRESSURE LOADING AND THICKENED LEAFLETS OF THE AORTIC-VALVE - A MODEL SIMULATION

A much smaller percentage of thickened leaflets of the aortic valve ha ve been found in the right of left coronary leaflet than in the noncor onary leaflet. This study investigated the pressure loading transferri ng to the leaflets of the aortic valve and their effects on the valvul ar thickening. A simple ascending aorta model was established, and a s imulation results showed that 5.8% to 17.% percentage of pressure load ing to the coronary leaflet may be decreased by the coronary perfusion in diastole. The coronary arteries play an important role on pressure s in the sinuses of Valsalva. The smaller pressure loading transferrin g to the coronary leaflet than that to the noncoronary leaflet is one reasonable explanation related to the thickened leaflets of the aortic valve.