Aortic valve disease

Overview

The aortic valve has two basic pathologies: stenotic or inadequate valve function (regurgitant). When the valve leaflets stiffen, the orifice narrows and the pressure gradient across the valve increases, sometimes resulting in decreased anterograde flow during systole.

 This can have a number of clinical consequences, starting with left ventricular hypertrophy and progressing to dilation, decreased cardiac output, arrhythmias, ischemia, and other complications. Aortic insufficiency occurs when the aortic valve fails to close properly during diastole, allowing retrograde blood flow from the aorta into the left ventricle.