CONGENITAL QUADRICUSPID AORTIC-VALVE ANOMALY ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTROPHIC NONOBSTRUCTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A case is reported of a 38 year old woman without known cardiac congen ital abnormality but a history of well. controlled arterial hypertensi on who was admitted to hospital after successful resuscitation at home following cardiac arrest. There was no evidence of myocardial infarct ion on 12-lead electrocardiogram but there were signs of left ventricu lar hypertrophy. Transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a rare qua dricuspid aortic valve (QAV) malformation with concomitant mild aortic regurgitation. The left ventricle showed a massive concentric hypertr ophy without obstruction. The patient was eventually transferred in a persistent vegetative state to a home care facility. A review of the l iterature revealed 70 cases of QAV diagnosed by transthoracic or trans oesophageal echocardiography (26 cases), at necropsy (25), during surg ery (15), and during angiography (4). The present case is the first re port of QAV associated with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopath y.