![]() ![]() A valve area less than one centimeter squared and a mean gradient greater than 40 millimeters of mercury is generally considered severe. We're able to calculate a valve area, and a mean transfer valvular gradient. By echocardiography, we are able to determine the heart size and function, were also able to quantitate the degree of stenosis. For instance, those with bicuspid valve may suffer from significant narrowing in their fifties or sixties.ĭiagnosis is often suspected based on physical examination and can be confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography. These patients frequently will suffer significant narrowing of the valve earlier in life. By contrast, individuals with a congenitally abnormal valve, meaning a unicuspid or single cusp valve, or a bicuspid, a two cusp valve. Individuals with a normal trileaflet valve typically don't experience significant narrowing until their seventies or eighties. In more advanced phases, this can cause congestive heart failure, sudden loss of consciousness, and in some cases, sudden death. In early phases, this can cause shortness of breath and chest discomfort. This can cause thickening of the heart muscle and stiffening. ![]() Progressive calcification of the valve results in progressive narrowing and a pressure overload phenomenon in the heart. Aortic stenosis is in general a progressive disease. Some individuals are felt to be genetically predisposed aortic stenosis. Risk factors for the development of aortic stenosis include high blood pressure, abnormal lipids, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. It has microscopic features which are in some ways similar to atherosclerosis. It's felt a result from an active inflammatory process. The prevalence is felt to be 6% or greater in each grade, age 75 or older here in the United States. This is uncommon in young patients, but becomes exponentially more common as we age. There are two main disease categories that can affect the aortic valve during one's lifetime. Over the course of one's life span, the aortic valve typically opens and closes and average of several billion times. As the heart relaxes, this valve then closes and prevents leakage of blood from the ascending aorta backwards into the heart. The normal aortic valve is a three leaflets structure that separates the ascending aorta from the left ventricle, which is the main pumping chamber of the heart.ĭuring the contraction of the heart, the aortic valve typically opens three to five square centimeters. I'm a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and I'd like to talk to you today about aortic valve disease. ![]()
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