Facts About Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease

The aortic valve is a one-way valve between the heart and the aorta, regulating blood flow from the heart into the aorta. It is the main artery from the ticker/the major blood vessel that distributes oxygen-rich blood to the body, and also prevents the blood from flowing back from the aorta into the ticker when the pumping chamber relaxes. Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease (BAVD) is one of the most common congenital heart conditions that can go unrecognized for years without incident. Surgery is the only fix once it starts to cause problems.

Normally, the aortic valve has three small flaps or leaflets that open widely and close securely to send oxygenated blood on a one-way route from the heart to the aorta. But in bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAVD), the valve has only two leaflets, which can cause life-threatening problems. This congenital heart condition affects about 1-2 percent of the population, and it is twice as likely to develop in men, might go unrecognized for years in some patients since it doesn’t cause any symptoms until it turns so severe it causes heart failure (HF). But, the condition requires close monitoring no matter when it is discovered.

Signs and Symptoms of BAVD:

As we’ve already mentioned, BAVD usually is not discovered until adulthood because the defective valve goes on to function normally for years without causing symptoms. Rarely is the disease so severe at birth that the child develops congestive heart failure (CHF). The valve eventually stiffens and narrows because of the buildup of calcium deposits on and around the leaflets over time, a condition called stenosis, which causes the ticker to pump increasingly harder to force the blood through the narrowed valve. Chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting are some symptoms.

Regurgitation is when blood starts flowing backwards into the ticker because of the bicuspid valve not closing properly, which causes the ticker to pump the same amount of blood again, causing strain on the heart’s lower left chamber (ventricle), which over time will either dilate or over-expand. Shortness of breath during exertion is the main symptom of aortic valve regurgitation. The symptoms are more visible as the disease progresses, even without exercise. A doctor can hear the murmurs when he/she listens to the person’s ticker (blood passing through a bicuspid valve may make an unusual sound).

Causes:

The actual cause of BAVD is not certain, and there’s nothing an individual can do prevent the condition since the condition develops in the womb. BAV often runs in families, certain genes have been identified as being associated with bicuspid aortic valve. Experts think it to be inherited, but not everyone in a family will have it. It is important for individuals to be aware of their family health history to stay prepared to handle such untoward medical conditions.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

A person experiencing symptoms, such as shortness of breath typically begins with their family doctor, who’ll perform a physical examination that includes listening to the person’s heart, which will lead to tests, such as an echocardiogram that can confirm whether a bicuspid valve is present. Remember, it can happen without a murmur.

Talking about treatment, the only treatment is surgery, which includes an aortic valve repair or replacement, depending on a person’s condition. Repair is possible if the quality of the valve flaps is good. Replacement of the aortic valve and repair of the aortic aneurysm (a ballooning and weakened area in the artery) may occur if a person also has related aneurysm.

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