Bicuspid Aortic Valve Syndrome

Prof. Gaetano Thiene's research spans all fields of cardiovascular medicine and pathology, especially clinico-pathological studies and translational research. He first reported arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) as a leading cause of sudden death in the young and athletes (NEJM 1988) and helped define its genetic basis (Human Genetics 2004). He is the principal architect of the Italian programme in which all young individuals participating in sporting activities are screened for potential cardiovascular problems. As leader of the Padua group, he worked at the interface of pathology and genetics in cardiomyopathies, identifying disease-causing mutations and correlating them with clinical and pathological features. He has authored over 1150 publications in top indexed journals of pathology and cardiovascular medicine, including 7 in NEJM and 52 in Circulation, and co-authored/edited 25 monographs. His work has garnered an H-index of 139 with over 111,000 citations (Google Scholar).Dr. Chiara Fraccaro graduated in Medicine and Surgery and specialised in Cardiology (2008) at Padua University. She earned a European Doctorate in Cardiovascular Sciences (2011) and a Master's in Interventional Cardiology (GISE/EAPCI/SCAI certified). She is currently a full staff interventional cardiologist at the University of Padua. Vice-Director of the postgraduate course in Interventional Treatment of Structural Heart Disease with Multimodality Imaging, she is a member of GISE, SIC, ANMCO and EAPCI. She served in the EAPCI Digital Communication (2018–2020), Women (2018–2020), Scientific Document & Initiative (2020–2022), and Educational Content, Courses, Webinars Committees (ongoing). Currently, she is a member of the Lancet Commission on Atherosclerotic Heart Disease. Former Deputy Editor (2018–2021) of GICI (ISSN 1824-7008), she is (co-)author of over 150 PubMed-indexed papers and book chapters.Prof. Giuseppe Tarantini graduated with honors in Medicine from the University of Parma (1997), specialized in Cardiovascular Diseases (2001), and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Padua (2005). After fellowships abroad, including India, he focused on congenital and rheumatic structural heart diseases. Since 2005, he has been a University Researcher and, since 2008, Scientific Director of Interventional Cardiology Research in Padua. Associate Professor since 2013, he has authored over 600 scientific publications and contributed to major international trials. Since 2016, he has directed the Interventional Cardiology Unit in Padua, performing advanced procedures (TAVI, mitral, pulmonary, tricuspid). He is known for using innovative technologies (stents, circulatory support). Former GISE President (2017), he is active in ESC and EAPCI. As a congress organizer and journal reviewer, he has received awards such as “100 Italian Excellence” and honorary citizenship of Trepuzzi.Cristina Basso, MD, PhD, is a cardiologist and pathologist. She directs the Cardiovascular Pathology Unit at the Padua University Hospital and the Veneto Region’s Cardio-Cerebro-Vascular Pathology Registry. Since 2013, she has led the 2nd level Advanced Master Course in Cardiovascular Pathology at the University of Padua. Her research focuses on sudden death, cardiomyopathies, myocarditis, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia-related pathology, cardiac tumors, and valvular disease. She is part of research networks and coordinates with all Units of Pathological Anatomy, Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, and Forensic Medicine in the Veneto Region for Cardiovascular Pathology. Former President of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology (USA), she is currently President of the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology (AECVP). She is Principal Investigator of competitive grants (ministerial calls, CARIPARO Foundation, Finalized Health Research), and has contributed to national and international guidelines and consensus documents.

• Foreword.- SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION.- History and epidemiology.- The normal anatomy of the aortic valve apparatus Morphology spectrum of bicuspid aortic valve Embryology.- Congenital heart disease associated with bicuspid aortic valve.- Genetic background and familiarity.- Aortopathy and aortic dissection.- SECTION II. NATURAL HISTORY AND COMPLICATIONS.- Aortic stenosis and incompetence.- Endocarditis.- SECTION III. Imaging and Diagnosis.- Echocardiography.- Cardiac MRI.- Angio-CT scan.- Surgical Treatment of aortic valve disease and aortopathy.- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.