Figure 1

Patient with severe AS and 1-year after mechanical AVR. Pre-op there is severe LV hypertrophy (433 g) with LV decompensation (LVEF 32%) and pericardial effusion. At 1-year, LV mass regressed by 37% (to 273 g) with significant improvement in function (LVEF 83%). The concomitant reduction in EDV (-40%) gives the appearance of an unchanged LV geometry. ECV was unchanged at 31% resulting in a 37% reduction in fibrosis (129 to 81 mls) and cell volume (284 to 179 ml).