BACKGROUND:The pathophysiological and clinical significance of microvascular dysfunction (MVD) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains uncertain.OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to use cardiovascular magnetic resonance to: 1) quantify coronary microvascular function; 2) examine the relationship between perfusion and fibrosis; and 3) evaluate the impact of MVD and fibrosis on long-term clinical outcomes.METHODS:In a prospective, observational study, patients with HFpEF and control subjects underwent multiparametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance (comprising assessment of left ventricular volumetry, perfusion, and fibrosis [focal by late gadolinium enhancement and diffuse by extracellular volume]). The primary endpoint was the composite of death or hospitalization with heart failure.RESULTS:One hundred and one patients with HFpEF (mean age 73 ± 9 years, mean ejection fraction 56% ± 5%) and 43 control subjects (mean age 73 ± 5 years, mean ejection fraction 58% ± 5%) were studied. Myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) was lower in patients with HFpEF versus control subjects (1.74 ± 0.76 vs 2.22 ± 0.76; P = 0.001). MVD (defined as MPR <2.0) was present in 70% of patients with HFpEF (vs 48% of control subjects; P = 0.014). There was no significant linear correlation between MPR and diffuse fibrosis (r = -0.10; P = 0.473) and no difference in MPR between those with and without focal fibrosis (mean difference -0.03; 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.30). In the HFpEF group, during median follow-up of 3.1 years, there were 45 composite events. MPR was independently predictive of clinical outcome following adjustment for clinical, blood, and imaging parameters (1 SD increase: HR: 0.673 [95% CI: 0.463 to 0.978; P = 0.038]; HR: 0.694 [95% CI: 0.491 to 0.982; P = 0.039]; and HR: 0.690 [95% CI: 0.489 to 0.973; P = 0.034], respectively).CONCLUSIONS:MVD is highly prevalent among patients with HFpEF and is an independent predictor of prognosis. The lack of correlation between MVD and fibrosis may challenge the assertion of a direct causal link between these entities. (Developing Imaging and Plasma Biomarkers in Describing Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction [DIAMONDHFpEF]; NCT03050593).

HomeCirculation: Cardiovascular ImagingVol. 14, No. 4Response by Chan et al to Radico et al Regarding Article, "Effect of the 2017 European Guidelines on Reclassification of Severe Aortic Stenosis and Its Influence on Management Decisions for Initially Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis" Free AccessLetterPDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toFree AccessLetterPDF/EPUBResponse by Chan et al to Radico et al Regarding Article, "Effect of the 2017 European Guidelines on Reclassification of Severe Aortic Stenosis and Its Influence on Management Decisions for Initially Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis" Daniel C.S. Chan, BMBS, PhD, Anvesha Singh, MBChB, PhD and Gerry P. McCann, MBChB, MD Daniel C.S. ChanDaniel C.S. Chan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9942-3710 Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester and Cardiovascular Theme, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, United Kingdom. , Anvesha SinghAnvesha Singh https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1112-3973 Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester and Cardiovascular Theme, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, United Kingdom. and Gerry P. McCannGerry P. McCann https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5542-8448 Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester and Cardiovascular Theme, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, United Kingdom. Originally published9 Apr 2021https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.121.012487Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2021;14:e012487Other version(s) of this articleYou are viewing the most recent version of this article. Previous versions: April 9, 2021: Ahead of Print In Response:Thank you for your interest in our article. We acknowledge that exercise testing is associated with symptom development and adverse events in aortic stenosis (AS), but as shown in the main PRIMID study (Prognostic Importance of Microvascular Dysfunction in Asymptomatic Patients with Aortic Stenosis), the diagnostic accuracy for prediction of short-term symptom development was poor.1 While a meta-analysis showed that the pooled positive predictive value of exercise testing for adverse events in asymptomatic severe AS was 66%,2 the PRIMID study found it to be much lower; 43% to 53% depending on the definition of a positive test1 in patients with severe AS (European Society of Cardiology 2012 definition), with a concordance statistic of only 0.59 suggesting moderate predictive accuracy for symptom onset. Although exercise testing does unmask symptoms in severe AS, this is not specific and has never been tested in a randomized controlled trial. We simply do not know whether such a strategy improves outcomes.The ST/hysteresis approach may indeed increase the sensitivity of exercise testing for patients who remain asymptomatic during exercise testing. However, its diagnostic performance has only been tested for detecting underlying coronary artery disease3 and not symptom onset or outcome. The benefit of identifying asymptomatic coronary artery disease in patients with AS is uncertain. Most patients with AS are older and already meet criteria for primary prevention, and treating asymptomatic coronary artery disease with percutaneous intervention is of uncertain benefit.4 We do agree that this subject is worthy of further study in a larger cohort with longer-term follow-up.Sources of FundingNone.Disclosures None.References1. Singh A, Greenwood JP, Berry C, Dawson DK, Hogrefe K, Kelly DJ, Dhakshinamurthy V, Lang CC, Khoo JP, Sprigings D, et al. Comparison of exercise testing and CMR measured myocardial perfusion reserve for predicting outcome in asymptomatic aortic stenosis: the PRognostic Importance of MIcrovascular Dysfunction in Aortic Stenosis (PRIMID AS) Study.Eur Heart J. 2017; 38:1222–1229. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx001CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Rafique AM, Biner S, Ray I, Forrester JS, Tolstrup K, Siegel RJ. Meta-analysis of prognostic value of stress testing in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis.Am J Cardiol. 2009; 104:972–977. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2009.05.044CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Procopio A, Radico F, Alexandre J, Mapelli M, Archilletti F, Acasandrei C, Fulgenzi F, Ghebru Y, Faggiano P, Mairesse GH, et al. ST-segment/heart rate hysteresis improves the exercise testing accuracy for coronary artery detection in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis.J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2020; 22(4):323–325. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000001081.CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. Maron DJ, Hochman JS, Reynolds HR, Bangalore S, O'Brien SM, Boden WE, Chaitman BR, Senior R, López-Sendón J, Alexander KP, et al; ISCHEMIA Research Group. Initial invasive or conservative strategy for stable coronary disease.N Engl J Med. 2020; 382:1395–1407. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1915922CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails April 2021Vol 14, Issue 4 Advertisement Article InformationMetrics © 2021 American Heart Association, Inc.https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.121.012487PMID: 33877872 Originally publishedApril 9, 2021 PDF download Advertisement SubjectsValvular Heart Disease

IntroductionThe pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains incompletely defined. We aimed to characterize HFpEF compared to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and asymptomatic hypertensive or non-hypertensive controls.Materials and methodsProspective, observational study of 234 subjects (HFpEF n = 140; HFrEF n = 46, controls n = 48, age 73±8, males 49%) who underwent echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), plasma biomarker analysis (panel of 22) and 6-minute walk testing (6MWT). The primary end-point was the composite of all-cause mortality and/or HF hospitalization.ResultsCompared to controls both HF groups had lower exercise capacity, lower left ventricular (LV) EF, higher LV filling pressures (E/E', B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP], left atrial [LA] volumes), more right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction, more focal and diffuse fibrosis and higher levels of all plasma markers. LV remodeling (mass/volume) was different between HFpEF (concentric, 0.68±0.16) and HFrEF (eccentric, 0.47±0.15); p<0.0001. Compared to controls, HFpEF was characterized by (mild) reductions in LVEF, more myocardial fibrosis, LA remodeling/dysfunction and RV dysfunction. HFrEF patients had lower LVEF, increased LV volumes, greater burden of focal and diffuse fibrosis, more RV remodeling, lower LAEF and higher LA volumes compared to HFpEF. Inflammatory/fibrotic/renal dysfunction plasma markers were similarly elevated in both HF groups but markers of cardiomyocyte stretch/damage (BNP, pro-BNP, N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and troponin-I) were higher in HFrEF compared to HFpEF; p<0.0001. Focal fibrosis was associated with galectin3, GDF-15, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-8, BNP, pro-BNP and NTproANP; p<0.05. Diffuse fibrosis was associated with GDF-15, Tenascin-C, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, BNP, proBNP and NTproANP; p<0.05. Composite event rates (median 1446 days follow-up) did not differ between HFpEF and HFrEF (Log-Rank p = 0.784).ConclusionsHFpEF is a distinct pathophysiological entity compared to age- and sex-matched HFrEF and controls. HFpEF and HFrEF are associated with similar adverse outcomes. Inflammation is common in both HF phenotypes but cardiomyocyte stretch/stress is greater in HFrEF.

Objectives Aortic stenosis (AS) is characterised by a long and variable asymptomatic course. Our objective was to use cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess progression of adverse remodeling in asymptomatic AS. Methods Participants from the PRIMID-AS study, a prospective, multi-centre observational study of asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe AS, who remained asymptomatic at 12 months, were invited to undergo a repeat cardiac MRI. Results Forty-three participants with moderate-severe AS (mean age 64.4 ± 14.8 years, 83.4% male, aortic valve area index 0.54 ± 0.15 cm 2 /m 2 ) were included. There was small but significant increase in indexed left ventricular (LV) (90.7 ± 22.0 to 94.5 ± 23.1 ml/m 2 , p = 0.007) and left atrial volumes (52.9 ± 11.3 to 58.6 ± 13.6 ml/m 2 , p < 0.001), with a decrease in systolic (LV ejection fraction 57.9 ± 4.6 to 55.6 ± 4.1%, p = 0.001) and diastolic (longitudinal diastolic strain rate 1.06 ± 0.2 to 0.99 ± 0.2 1/s, p = 0.026) function, but no overall change in LV mass or mass/volume. Late gadolinium enhancement increased (2.02 to 4.26 g, p < 0.001) but markers of diffuse interstitial fibrosis did not change significantly (extracellular volume index 12.9 [11.4, 17.0] ml/m 2 to 13.3 [11.1, 15.1] ml/m 2 , p = 0.689). There was also a significant increase in the levels of NT-proBNP (43.6 [13.45, 137.08] pg/ml to 53.4 [19.14, 202.20] pg/ml, p = 0.001). Conclusions There is progression in cardiac remodeling with increasing scar burden even in asymptomatic AS. Given the lack of reversibility of LGE post-AVR and its association with long-term mortality post-AVR, this suggests the potential need for earlier intervention, before the accumulation of LGE, to improve the long-term outcomes in AS. Key Points • Current guidelines recommend waiting until symptom onset before valve replacement in severe AS. • MRI showed clear progression in cardiac remodeling over 12 months in asymptomatic patients with AS, with near doubling in LGE. • This highlights the need for potentially earlier intervention or better risk stratification in AS.

The popular annual autumn meeting of the British Society for Heart Failure (BSH) boasted a line-up of internationally recognised authorities in heart failure. Held in London on 28th-29th November 2019, the meeting's focus was on improving quality and reducing inequality. Drs Sanjay S Bhandari and Daniel CS Chan report its highlights.

BACKGROUND: The 2017 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for valvular heart disease included changes in the definition of severe aortic stenosis (AS). We wanted to evaluate its influence on management decisions in asymptomatic patients with moderate-severe AS. METHODS: We reclassified the AS severity of the participants of the PRIMID-AS study (Prognostic Importance of Microvascular Dysfunction in Asymptomatic Patients With AS), using the 2017 guidelines, determined their risk of reaching a clinical end point (valve replacement for symptoms, hospitalization, or cardiovascular death) and evaluated the prognostic value of aortic valve calcium score and biomarkers. Patients underwent echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, exercise tolerance testing, and biomarker assessment. RESULTS: Of the 174 participants, 45% (56/124) classified as severe AS were reclassified as moderate AS. This reclassified group was similar to the original moderate group in clinical characteristics, gradients, calcium scores, and remodeling parameters. There were 47 primary end points (41 valve replacement, 1 death, and 5 hospitalizations-1 chest pain, 2 dyspnea, 1 heart failure, and 1 syncope) over 368 +/- 156 days follow-up. The severe and reclassified groups had a higher risk compared with moderate group (adjusted hazard ratio 4.95 [2.02-12.13] and 2.78 [1.07-7.22], respectively), with the reclassified group demonstrating an intermediate risk. A mean pressure gradient >= 31 mm Hg had a 7x higher risk of the primary end point in the reclassified group. Aortic valve calcium score was more prognostic in females and low valve area but not after adjusting for gradients. NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide) and myocardial perfusion reserve were associated with the primary end point but not after adjusting for positive exercise tolerance testing. Troponin was associated with cardiovascular death or unplanned hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: Reclassification of asymptomatic severe AS into moderate AS was common using the European Society of Cardiology 2017 guidelines. This group had an intermediate risk of reaching the primary end point. Exercise testing, multimodality imaging, and lower mean pressure gradient threshold of 31 mm Hg may improve risk stratification. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01658345.

Background: Attempts to characterize cardiac structure in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have yielded inconsistent findings. We aimed to determine whether patients with HFpEF and T2D have a distinct pattern of cardiac remodelling compared with those without diabetes and whether remodelling was related to circulating markers of inflammation and fibrosis and clinical outcomes. Methods: We recruited 140 patients with HFpEF (75 with T2D and 65 without). Participants underwent comprehensive cardiovascular phenotyping, including echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and plasma biomarker profiling. Results: Patients with T2D were younger (age 70 ± 9 versus 75 ± 9y, p = 0.002), with evidence of more left ventricular (LV) concentric remodelling (LV mass/volume ratio 0.72 ± 0.15 versus 0.62 ± 0.16, p = 0.024) and smaller indexed left atrial (LA) volumes (maximal LA volume index 48 ± 20 versus 59 ± 29 ml/m 2 , p = 0.004) than those without diabetes. Plasma biomarkers of inflammation and extracellular matrix remodelling were elevated in those with T2D. Overall, there were 45 hospitalizations for HF and 22 deaths over a median follow-up period of 47 months [interquartile range (IQR) 38–54]. There was no difference in the primary composite endpoint of hospitalization for HF and mortality between groups. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, age, prior HF hospitalization, history of pulmonary disease and LV mass/volume were independent predictors of the primary endpoint. Conclusions: Patients with HFpEF and T2D have increased concentric LV remodelling, smaller LA volumes and evidence of increased systemic inflammation compared with those without diabetes. This suggests the underlying pathophysiology for the development of HFpEF is different in patients with and without T2D. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03050593.

Introduction Tenascin-C is a marker of interstitial fibrosis. We assessed whether plasma Tenascin-C differed between heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and asymptomatic controls and related to clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods Prospective, observational study of 172 age- and sex-matched subjects (HFpEFn = 130; controlsn = 42, age 73 +/- 9, males 50%) who underwent phenotyping with 20 plasma biomarkers, echocardiography, cardiac MRI and 6-minute-walk-testing. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death/HF hospitalisation. Results Tenascin-C was higher in HFpEF compared to controls (13.7 [10.8-17.3] vs (11.1 [8.9-12.9] ng/ml,p < 0.0001). Tenascin-C correlated positively with markers of clinical severity (NYHA, E/E', BNP) and plasma biomarkers reflecting interstitial fibrosis (ST-2, Galectin-3, GDF-15, TIMP-1, TIMP-4, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-8), cardiomyocyte stress (BNP, NTpro-ANP), inflammation (MPO, hs-CRP, TNFR-1, IL6) and renal dysfunction (urea, cystatin-C, NGAL);p < 0.05 for all. During follow-up (median 1428 days), there were 61 composite events (21 deaths, 40 HF hospitalizations). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, Tenascin-C (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.755, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.305-2.360;p < 0.0001) and indexed extracellular volume (HR 1.465, CI 1.019-2.106;p = 0.039) were independently associated with adverse outcomes. Conclusions In HFpEF, plasma Tenascin-C is higher compared to age- and sex-matched controls and a strong predictor of adverse outcomes.

AimsTo provide insights into pathogenesis of disease progression and potential novel treatment targets for patients with heart failure by investigation of the plasma proteome using network analysis. Methods and resultsThe plasma proteome of 50 patients with heart failure who died or were rehospitalised were compared with 50 patients with heart failure, matched for age and sex, who did not have an event. Peptides were analysed on two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (2D LC ESI-MS/MS) in high definition mode (HDMSE). We identified and quantified 3001 proteins, of which 51 were significantly up-regulated and 46 down-regulated with more than two-fold expression changes in those who experienced death or rehospitalisation. Gene ontology enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction networks of significant differentially expressed proteins discovered the central role of metabolic processes in clinical outcomes of patients with heart failure. The findings revealed that a cluster of proteins related to glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and pyruvate metabolism in the pathogenesis of poor outcome in patients with heart failure who died or were rehospitalised. ConclusionsOur findings show that in patients with heart failure who died or were rehospitalised, the glutathione, arginine and proline, and pyruvate pathways were activated. These pathways might be potential targets for therapies to improve poor outcomes in patients with heart failure.

AimsAssociation of elevated circulating levels of trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) has been described. However, response of TMAO levels to treatment and medications has not been investigated. Therefore, we investigated whether TMAO levels are responsive to guideline‐recommended treatment and medications, and further reflect changes in outcomes.Methods and resultsTMAO levels were investigated in the systems BIOlogy Study to TAilored Treatment in Chronic Heart Failure (BIOSTAT‐CHF), which addressed response to guideline‐recommended pharmacological treatment. TMAO levels in 2234 patients with new‐onset or progressively worsening HF showed strong associations with adverse events (mortality and/or rehospitalisation) at 1, 2 and 3 years [hazard ratio (HR) 1.37–1.51, P ≤ 0.019). Analysis of 972 patients with plasma available at both enrolment and follow‐up visit showed reductions of B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels with guideline‐based treatment (P < 0.001), but not for TMAO levels. Moreover, patients with higher TMAO levels than median before and after treatment showed increased association with adverse outcomes [HR 2.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–3.43, P < 0.001] compared to patients with lower than median levels either before or after treatment (HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.63–2.04, P = 0.684 and HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.64–2.03, P = 0.662, respectively).ConclusionTMAO levels were associated with adverse outcomes (mortality and/or rehospitalisation) in BIOSTAT‐CHF, and did not respond to guideline‐based pharmacological treatment in contrast to BNP levels which did as expected. Lower TMAO levels were associated with favourable outcome regardless of treatment.

Proenkephalin (PENK), a stable endogenous opioid biomarker related to renal function, has prognostic utility in acute and chronic heart failure. We investigated the prognostic utility of PENK in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and its relationship to renal function, Body Mass Index (BMI), and imaging measures of diastolic dysfunction. In this multicentre study, PENK was measured in 522 HFpEF patients (ejection fraction > 50%, 253 male, mean age 76.13 ± 10.73 years) and compared to 47 age and sex-matched controls. The primary endpoint was 2-years composite of all-cause mortality and/or heart failure rehospitalisation (HF). A subset (n = 163) received detailed imaging studies. PENK levels were raised in HFpEF (median [interquartile range] 88.9 [62.1–132.0]) compared to normal controls (56.3 [47.9–70.5]). PENK was correlated to urea, eGFR, Body Mass Index and E/e′ (rs 0.635, − 0.741, − 0.275, 0.476, respectively, p < 0.0005). During 2 years follow-up 144 patients died and 220 had death/HF endpoints. Multivariable Cox regression models showed PENK independently predicted 2 year death/HF [hazard ratio (for 1 SD increment of log-transformed biomarker) HR 1.45 [95% CI 1.12–1.88, p = 0.005]], even after adjustment for troponin (HR 1.59 [1.14–2.20, p = 0.006]), and Body Mass Index (HR 1.63 [1.13–2.33, p = 0.009]). PENK showed no interaction with ejection fraction status for prediction of poor outcomes. Net reclassification analyses showed PENK significantly improved classification of death/HF outcomes for multivariable models containing natriuretic peptide, troponin and Body Mass Index (p < 0.05 for all). In HFpEF, PENK levels are related to BMI, and measures of diastolic dysfunction and are prognostic for all-cause mortality and heart failure rehospitalisation.

BACKGROUND:Proenkephalin A (PENK) and its receptors are widely distributed. Enkephalins are cardiodepressive and difficult to measure directly. PENK is a stable surrogate analyte of labile enkephalins that is correlated inversely with renal function. Cardiorenal syndrome is common in acute heart failure (HF) and portends poor prognosis. OBJECTIVES:This study assessed the prognostic value of PENK in acute HF, by identifying levels that may be useful in clinical decisions, and evaluated its utility for predicting cardiorenal syndrome. METHODS:This multicenter study measured PENK in 1,908 patients with acute HF (1,186 male; mean age 75.66 ± 11.74 years). The primary endpoint was 1-year all-cause mortality; secondary endpoints were in-hospital mortality, all-cause mortality or HF rehospitalization within 1 year, and in-hospital worsening renal function, defined as a rise in plasma creatinine ≥26.5 μmol/l or 50% higher than the admission value within 5 days of presentation. RESULTS:During 1-year follow-up, 518 patients died. Measures of renal function were the major determinants of PENK levels. PENK independently predicted worsening renal function (odds ratio: 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 to 2.00; p < 0.0005) with a model receiver-operating characteristic area of 0.69. PENK was associated with the degree of worsening renal function. Multivariable Cox regression models showed that PENK level was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality (p < 0.0005) and 1-year death and/or HF (hazard ratio: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.45; p = 0.001). PENK levels independently predicted outcomes at 3 or 6 months and were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality, predominantly down-classifying risk in survivors when added to clinical scores; levels <133.3 pmol/l and >211.3 pmol/l detected low-risk and high-risk patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:PENK levels reflect cardiorenal status in acute HF and are prognostic for worsening renal function and in-hospital mortality as well as mortality during follow-up.

OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to establish sex differences in remodeling and outcome in aortic stenosis (AS) and their associations with biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis. BACKGROUND:The remodeling response and timing of symptoms is highly variable in AS, and sex plays an important role. METHODS:A total of 174 patients (133 men, mean age 66.2 ± 13.3 years) with asymptomatic moderate to severe AS underwent comprehensive stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, transthoracic echocardiography, and biomarker analysis (matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-2, -3, -7, -8, and -9; tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinases-1 and -4; syndecan-1 and -4; and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), and were followed up at 6-month intervals. A primary endpoint was a composite of typical AS symptoms necessitating referral for aortic valve replacement, cardiovascular death, or major adverse cardiovascular events. RESULTS:For a similar severity of AS, male patients demonstrated higher indexed left ventricular (LV) volumes and mass, more concentric remodeling (higher LV mass/volume), a trend to more late gadolinium enhancement (present in 51.1% men vs. 34.1% women; p = 0.057), and higher extracellular volume index than female patients (13.27 [interquartile range (IQR): 11.5 to 17.0] vs. 11.53 [IQR: 10.5 to 13.5] ml/m2, p = 0.017), with worse systolic and diastolic function and higher MMP-3 and syndecan-4 levels, whereas female patients had higher septal E/e'. Male sex was independently associated with indexed LV mass (β = 13.32 [IQR: 9.59 to 17.05]; p < 0.001). During median follow-up of 374 (IQR: 351 to 498) days, a primary outcome, driven by spontaneous symptom onset, occurred in 21.8% of male and 43.9% of female patients (relative risk: 0.50 [95% confidence interval: 0.31 to 0.80]; p = 0.004). Measures of AS severity were associated with the primary outcome in both sexes, whereas N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, MMP-3, and mass/volume were only associated in men. CONCLUSIONS:In AS, women tolerate pressure overload with less concentric remodeling and myocardial fibrosis but are more likely to develop symptoms. This may be related to higher wall stress and filling pressures in women.