Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 August 2008
Case records of 67 children who presented beyond infancy (57 male, 10 female) with congenital valvar aortic stenosis were reviewed to assess progression utilizing the Doppler derived peak gradient as the index of severity. Age at presentation ranged from 1–13 years, and mean follow-up was 67 ± 29 months (range 12–142 months). The patients were divided into three groups depending on the rate of progression. Those with the most rapid rate of progression were significantly older when aortic stenosis was detected and at the time of presentation compared to the other two groups, who progressed minimally or not at all (p < 0.002 and p < 0.01 respectively). There was no significant correlation between the progression of stenosis and other clinical or Doppler echocardiographic variables.