BACKGROUNDThe anatomic value of the aortic root is important for aortic valve repair. This study was to determine the normal diameters of the aortic valve annulus (AVA) and sinus-tube joint (STJ) in the healthy adults of Chinese Han ethnic group, and to provide a morphological foundation for potential clinical application.

METHODSEchocardiography was performed in 326 normal subjects, who were divided into 5 groups according to their age. The diameters of the AVA and STJ were measured in the parasternal long-axis view, and normalized to body surface area (BSA). They were averaged for each age group and for each gender. Differences were then determined between the normalized diameters for each age group and for both genders. Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient was used to determine the differences between AVA and STJ diameters. It was also used to determine any positive or negative correlations between the above two variables and age, BSA, weight, and height.

RESULTSThe diameters of the AVA and STJ of Han nationality patients increased with an increase in age, BSA, weight, and height. The correlation coefficient between AVA diameter and BSA was 0.4944 (P < 0.0001), between AVA diameter and age, 0.1138 (P < 0.05), between AVA diameter and weight, 0.4521 (P < 0.001), and between AVA diameter and height, 0.4713 (P < 0.001). The correlation coefficient between STJ diameter and BSA was 0.3910 (P < 0.0001), between STJ diameter and age, 0.3667 (P < 0.0001), between STJ diameter and weight, 0.4586 (P < 0.0001), and between STJ diameter and height, 0.3736 (P < 0.0001). The difference between the above two diameters was statistically significant at 2.42 +/- 2.45 mm (paired t-test; t = -17.25; P < 0.0001). AVA and STJ diameters were similar in both genders of each group when indexed to BSA.

CONCLUSIONSThe diameters of the AVA and STJ of adults of Chinese Han ethnic group increase with age, BSA, weight, and height. The diameters of the AVA and the STJ are similar in both genders, when indexed to BSA. The diameter of the AVA is shorter (about 10%) than that of the STJ, and the difference between the two diameters was 2.42 +/- 2.45 mm.