Description

Aortic valve regurgitation — also called aortic regurgitation — is a type of heart valve disease. The valve that is located between the lower left chamber of the heart and the body's main artery that does not close tightly. As a result, some of the blood pumped out of the heart's main pumping chamber called the left ventricle, leaks backward.

The leakage may prevent the heart from doing a good job of pumping blood to the rest of the body. You may feel tired and short of breath.

Aortic valve regurgitation can develop suddenly or over a period of many years. Once the condition becomes more severe, surgery is often necessary to repair or replace the valve.

Symptoms

More often, aortic valve regurgitation develops over time. You may not have symptoms for years. You may not realize that you have the disease. But sometimes, aortic valve regurgitation, occurs suddenly. Usually, this is due to an infection of the valve.

As regurgitation of the aortic valve becomes worse, symptoms may include:

  • Shortness of breath with exercise or while lying down.
  • Unusual tiredness and weakness, especially when it is more active than usual.
  • Irregular beating of the heart.
  • Feeling light-headed or fainting.
  • The pain, discomfort, or a feeling of tightness in the chest, which often gets worse during exercise.
  • Sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat, called palpitations.
  • The swelling of the ankles and feet.

When to see a doctor

Call a member of your health care team right away if you have symptoms of aortic valve regurgitation.

Sometimes the first symptoms of aortic valve regurgitation are related to heart failure. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump blood as well as it should. Make an appointment with your health care team if you have:

  • The tiredness, also called fatigue that does not improve with rest.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • The swelling of the ankles and feet.

These are the most common symptoms of heart failure.

Causes

The aortic valve is one of four valves that control the flow of blood through the heart. Separates the heart's main pumping chamber called the left ventricle and the body's main artery, called the aorta. The aortic valve has flaps, also called cusps or leaflets, that open and close once during each heartbeat.

In the regurgitation of the aortic valve, the valve does not close properly. This causes blood to leak back into the left bottom part of the heart of the camera, called the left ventricle. As a result, the camera has more blood. This could cause it to become more large and thick.

In the first, the largest of the left ventricle helps to maintain a good circulation of the blood with more force. But with time, the heart becomes weaker.

Any condition that damages the aortic valve can cause regurgitation of the aortic valve. The causes may include:

  • Heart valve disease present at birth.Some people are born with an aortic valve that only has two cusps, called bicuspid valves. Others are born with connected cusps instead of the typical three separate. Sometimes, the valve can have a single peak, called a unicuspid valve. Other times, there are four cusps, called quadricuspid valve. Having a father or brother with a bicuspid valves increases the risk of the disease. But you may have a valve bicuspid even if you do not have a family history of the disease.
  • Narrowing of the aortic valve, called aortic stenosis. Calcium deposits may build up on the aortic valve with age. The accumulation of the causes of the aortic valve to harden and become narrow. Prevents the valve from opening properly. Aortic stenosis can also prevent the valve from closing properly.
  • Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. This life-threatening condition, it is also called endocarditis. It is usually caused by an infection. You can damage the aortic valve.
  • Rheumatic fever. This condition was once a common childhood illness in the united States. Strep throat can cause. Rheumatic fever can cause the aortic valve that has become stiff and narrow and, in turn, causing the blood to escape. If you have an irregular heart valve due to rheumatic fever, it is called rheumatic heart disease.
  • Other health conditions. Other rare conditions can cause the aorta to become larger and the damage of the aortic valve. These include connective tissue disease, Marfan syndrome. Some immune system conditions, such as lupus, can also lead to regurgitation of the aortic valve.
  • Tear or injury of the body's main artery. The body's main artery is the aorta. A traumatic injury to the chest can cause damage to the aorta and the cause of aortic regurgitation. So it might be a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, called an aortic dissection.

Heart valve disease present at birth. Some people are born with an aortic valve that only has two cusps, called bicuspid valves. Others are born with connected cusps instead of the typical three separate. Sometimes, the valve can have a single peak, called a unicuspid valve. Other times, there are four cusps, called quadricuspid valve.

Having a father or brother with a bicuspid valves increases the risk of the disease. But you may have a valve bicuspid even if you do not have a family history of the disease.

Risk factors

Things that increase the risk of aortic valve regurgitation include:

  • Advanced age.
  • Problems with the heart present at birth, also called congenital heart defects.
  • History of infections that can affect the heart.
  • Certain conditions that are transmitted through families that can affect the heart, such as Marfan syndrome.
  • Other types of heart valve disease, such as stenosis of the aortic valve.
  • The high blood pressure.

The condition may also occur without any known risk factors.

Complications

Complications of aortic valve regurgitation may include:

  • Fainting or feeling light-headed.
  • Heart failure.
  • Some infections, such as endocarditis.
  • Problems with heart rhythms, called arrhythmias.
  • Death.

Prevention

If you have any type of heart disease, get regular medical checkups.

If you have a parent, child or sibling with a bicuspid aortic valve, you should have an imaging test called an echocardiogram. This can be verified by the regurgitation of the aortic valve. Early diagnosis of heart valve disease, such as aortic valve regurgitation, it is important to. Doing so may make the condition easier to treat.

Also, take measures to prevent the conditions that may increase the risk of regurgitation of the aortic valve. For example:

  • Get a health checkup if you have a severe sore throat. Untreated strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever. Strep throat is treated with drugs that fight the bacteria, called antibiotics.
  • Check your blood pressure regularly. Have your blood pressure checked at least every two years starting at the age of 18 years. Some people need more frequent checks.

Diagnosis

To diagnose aortic valve regurgitation, a member of your health care team scans it. Normally they will ask about your symptoms and medical history. You may also ask about your family's medical history.

Your blood pressure is controlled by a sleeve, is usually placed around your upper arm. A device called a stethoscope is used to listen to your heart. Your health care professional may detect an irregularity of sound called a heart murmur.

You may be referred to a doctor trained in diseases of the heart, called a cardiologist.

Tests

Tests may be done to check the health of your heart and learn the cause of the regurgitation of the aortic valve. Tests may include:

  • The echocardiogram.Sound waves are used to create images of the beating heart. This test shows how the blood flows through the heart and the heart valves. You can display the aortic valve and the aorta. An echocardiogram can help to know how severe aortic regurgitation is. There are different types of echocardiograms. If a standard test does not provide enough information, you can get a call from a transesophageal echocardiogram. This type create images of the heart from the inside of the body. It gives a detailed look into the aorta and the aortic valve.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). An ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart. It shows how fast or how slow the heart is beating. Adhesive patches placed on the chest and sometimes the arms and legs. The wires connect the electrodes to a computer, which displays the results.
  • X-ray of the chest. A chest x-ray can show whether the heart or the aorta is enlarged. It can also help to determine the condition of the lungs.
  • Computed tomography of the heart. Also called a cardiac CT scan, this test uses a series of X-rays to make a detailed image of the heart. You lie on a table inside of a ring-shaped machine. The CT scan also can help to confirm a tear in the aorta.
  • Exercise tests or stress tests. These tests often involve walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while the heart is on. Exercise tests show how the heart reacts to physical activity. The tests can show if the valve symptoms of the disease occur during the exercise. If you are unable to do exercise, you could get drugs that affect the heart as the exercise you do.
  • Cardiac magnetic resonance. This test uses a magnetic field and radio waves to take detailed images of the heart, including the aorta and the aortic valve.
  • The cardiac catheterization.This test is not always used to find regurgitation of the aortic valve. But it can be done if other tests that are not able to diagnose the condition and determine how severe it is. Cardiac catheterization may be done before valve replacement surgery to see if there are obstructions. In cardiac catheterization, a doctor inserts a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel, usually in the groin or wrist. Is guided into the heart. Contrast dye flows through the catheter into the arteries in the heart. The dye helps the arteries to show up more clearly on X-ray images and video.

The echocardiogram. Sound waves are used to create images of the beating heart. This test shows how the blood flows through the heart and the heart valves. You can display the aortic valve and the aorta. An echocardiogram can help to know how severe aortic regurgitation is.

There are different types of echocardiograms. If a standard test does not provide enough information, you can get a call from a transesophageal echocardiogram. This type create images of the heart from the inside of the body. It gives a detailed look into the aorta and the aortic valve.

The cardiac catheterization. This test is not always used to find regurgitation of the aortic valve. But it can be done if other tests that are not able to diagnose the condition and determine how severe it is. Cardiac catheterization may be done before valve replacement surgery to see if there are obstructions.

In cardiac catheterization, a doctor inserts a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel, usually in the groin or wrist. Is guided into the heart. Contrast dye flows through the catheter into the arteries in the heart. The dye helps the arteries to show up more clearly on X-ray images and video.

Heart valve disease stages

After the test confirms the diagnosis of heart valve disease, your health care team can tell you that the stage of the disease. Staging helps to determine the most appropriate treatment.

The stage of heart valve disease depends on many things, including symptoms, severity of the disease, the structure of the valve or valves and the flow of blood through the heart and lungs.

Heart valve disease is staged in four basic groups:

  • Stage A: At risk. Risk factors for heart valve disease are present.
  • Stage B: Progressive. Valve disease is mild or moderate. No valve of the heart of the symptoms.
  • C-stage: Asymptomatic severe. There is no heart valve symptoms, but the disease of the valve is severe.
  • Stage D: Symptomatic severe. Heart valve disease is severe and is causing the symptoms.

Treatment

The treatment of aortic valve regurgitation depends on:

  • The severity of the condition.
  • The symptoms, if any.
  • If the disease is getting worse.

The objectives of the aortic valve regurgitation treatment are to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.

If your symptoms are mild or you don't have symptoms, you may only need regular medical checkups. You may need to have regular echocardiograms to check the status of the aortic valve. Heart-healthy lifestyle changes are also usually recommended.

Drugs

If you have aortic valve regurgitation, you may be given medicines to:

  • The treatment of the symptoms.
  • To reduce the risk of complications.
  • Lower blood pressure.

Surgery or other procedures

Surgery may be needed to repair or replace the diseased valve, especially if the disease is and the symptoms are severe. Heart valve surgery may be necessary even if the aortic regurgitation is not severe, or when there are no symptoms.

The decision to repair or replace a damaged aortic valve depends on:

  • Their symptoms.
  • Your age and general health.
  • If you need heart surgery to correct another disease of the heart.

If you have another heart surgery, the surgeons can do surgery of the aortic valve, at the same time.

Surgery to repair or replace the aortic valve can be done as an open-heart surgery. This implies a cut, called an incision in the chest. Sometimes surgeons can perform minimally invasive heart surgery to replace the aortic valve.

Surgery for aortic valve regurgitation include:

  • Repair of the aortic valve. To repair an aortic valve, surgeons may detach from the valve covers, also called cuspids, which have been connected. You can reform or eliminate the excess valve tissue so that the tops can be closed tightly. Or it could be that the patch holes in a valve. A catheter procedure can be done to put a socket or device in a leaking aortic valve replacement.
  • Replacement of the aortic valve.The surgeon removes the damaged valve and replaces it. The replacement may be a mechanical valve or one cow, pig or human heart tissue. A tissue valve is also called a biological tissue valve. Sometimes, surgeons can perform minimally invasive heart surgery to replace the aortic valve. This procedure is called a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Uses smaller incisions than those used in open-heart surgery. Sometimes, the aortic valve is replaced with his own lung of the valve, also called the pulmonary valve. His pulmonary valve is replaced with a biological pulmonary valve tissue from a deceased donor. This more complicated the surgery is called the Ross procedure. Biological tissue valves will break down over time. Eventually, they may need to be replaced. People with mechanical valves need blood thinners for life, to prevent the formation of blood clots. Ask your health care team about the benefits and risks of each type of valve.

Replacement of the aortic valve. The surgeon removes the damaged valve and replaces it. The replacement may be a mechanical valve or one cow, pig or human heart tissue. A tissue valve is also called a biological tissue valve.

Sometimes, surgeons can perform minimally invasive heart surgery to replace the aortic valve. This procedure is called a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Uses smaller incisions than those used in open-heart surgery.

Sometimes, the aortic valve is replaced with his own lung of the valve, also called the pulmonary valve. His pulmonary valve is replaced with a biological pulmonary valve tissue from a deceased donor. This more complicated the surgery is called the Ross procedure.

Biological tissue valves will break down over time. Eventually, they may need to be replaced. People with mechanical valves need blood thinners for life, to prevent the formation of blood clots. Ask your health care team about the benefits and risks of each type of valve.

Lifestyle and home remedies

While lifestyle changes may not prevent, or treat your condition, your health care team might suggest that the practice of some heart-healthy habits. These may include:

  • Eating a heart-healthy diet. Enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables, low-fat or non-fat dairy products, poultry, fish and whole grains. Stay away from saturated and trans fats and excess salt and sugar.
  • Stay at a healthy weight. The goal of maintaining a healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, your health care team may recommend that you lose weight. Ask what goal weight is healthy for you.
  • Get regular exercise. Aim to include about 30 minutes of physical activity, such as brisk walking, on his daily exercise routine. Ask your health care team for advice before you start exercising, especially if you are thinking of playing competitive sports.
  • Do not smoke or use tobacco. If you smoke, stop smoking. Ask your health care team about resources to help you quit smoking. Join a support group can be helpful.
  • Control of high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of serious health problems. Get your blood pressure checked at least every two years, if you are over 18 years old. If you have risk factors for heart disease, and has more than 40 years of age, you may need more frequent checks.
  • Get a cholesterol test. Get your first cholesterol test when you're in your 20s and then to another, and at least every 4 to 6 years. Some people may need to start testing earlier or have more frequent checks.
  • Control diabetes. If you have diabetes, tight blood sugar control can help to keep your heart healthy.
  • Practice good sleep habits. Lack of sleep can increase the risk of heart disease. Adults should aim to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends. If you have trouble sleeping, talk with your health care team about strategies that might help.

Pregnancy and aortic valve regurgitation

Careful and regular check-ups are necessary for those who have heart valve disease, including aortic valve regurgitation during pregnancy. If you have a severe heart valve condition, you might be told not to get pregnant to reduce the risk of complications.

Preparing for your appointment

If you think you might have symptoms of heart valve disease, make an appointment for a health checkup. You may be referred to a doctor trained in heart disease. This doctor is called a cardiologist.

If you have aortic valve regurgitation, consider the possibility of being attended by a team doctor who specializes in diseases of the heart valves.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • Be aware of pre-appointment restrictions. When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do beforehand. For example, you may be asked not to eat or drink for a short period of time before a cholesterol test.
  • Write down your symptoms and how long you have had. Include any that seem unrelated to the disease of the heart valve.
  • List important medical information, including any family history of heart valve disease, and any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all the medicines , vitamins, and supplements you are taking. To include in the dose.
  • Have a family member or friend with you to the appointment, if possible. Someone who joins you can help you remember what your health care team, says.
  • Write down questions to ask your health care team.

For the regurgitation of the aortic valve, questions to ask your health care team include:

  • What is the likely cause of my symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What treatment do you recommend it?
  • There are other treatment options?
  • I'm going to need surgery? If so, what surgeon I recommend for aortic valve surgery?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • There are restrictions that must be followed?
  • You should see a specialist?

Do not hesitate to ask any other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Usually you are asked many questions, including:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • How often do you experience your symptoms?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Do you have heart disease in your family?
Symptoms and treatment of Aortic valve regurgitation