Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) and echocardiographic data of 93 CoA patients were analyzed retrospectively on the progression, and determinants, of progressive thoracic aortic dilatation. Outcome of simple- versus complex CoA patients were compared. 93 CoA patients (mean age 39 ¡À 12 years, male 59 % ) were followed with CMR (follow-up 5.3 ¡À 1.8 years). Twenty-eight patients were classified as simple- and 68 as complex CoA. The mean progression rate of thoracic aortic dilatation was highest in the ascending aorta with 2.2 ¡À 2.0 mm/5 years (range 0-7.2 mm/5 years). History of VSD (¦Â = 1.77, P = 0.004) and an increased left ventricular mass index (¦Â = 0.02, P = 0.04) were associated with progressive ascending aortic dilatation. Complex CoA patients show an increased progression rate compared to simple CoA patients with 2.4 mm/5 years versus 1.5 mm/5 years respectively. (P = 0.03).
Adult post-coarctectomy patients show an increased mean progression rate of ascending aortic dilatation with 2.2 mm/5 years. The progression rate of ascending aortic dilatation is increased in complex CoA patients, as compared to simple CoA patients. These findings point towards a more comprehensive genetic subset of patients with an increased risk for progressive ascending aortic dilatation.