Aortic valve disease is a condition in which the valve between the main pumping chamber of your heart (left ventricle) and the main artery to your body (aorta) doesn't work properly.
Types
There are two commonly known types of AVD:
- Aortic valve stenosis. Occurs when the flaps (cusps) of the aortic valve may become stiff or fuse together. This causes narrowing of the aortic valve opening. The narrowed valve cannot open fully, which can block blood flow from the heart into the body (aorta) and the rest of the body.
- Aortic valve regurgitation. Occurs when the aortic valve doesn't close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the left ventricle.
Aortic valve disease may be a heart defect condition present at birth (congenital).
Causes
AVD may be a heart condition that is present at birth (congenital).
Other causes that may result in AVD include:
- Infections (from endocarditis or rheumatic fever)
- Age-related changes to the heart (calcium deposits may cause the valves to become stiff and thickened)
- High blood pressure or injury to the heart (heart attack and heart failure).