Aortic Valve Disease

Aortic valve disease is a common condition that, if untreated, can result in heart failure and even death.

The following factors can contribute to aortic valve disease:

• Thickening or stiffening of the valve due to calcium or scar tissue that builds up on the aortic valve over time
• Bicuspid valve disease, a heart defect present at birth that worsens over many decades of life
• Rheumatic fever, which results in valve scarring
• Infective endocarditis, a complication of heart valve infection
• High blood pressure, also called hypertension

Not all patients with aortic stenosis or aortic regurgitation have apparent symptoms. When aortic valve disease is severe, the following symptoms may appear:

• Breathlessness
• Chest pain, pressure or tightness
• Dizziness or fainting
• Palpitations, noticeable heartbeats or a heavy, pounding feeling in the chest
• Fatigue and lower activity levels than usual

Our doctors use several tests and procedures to diagnose aortic valve disease, including:

• Physical examination
• Listening to your heart with a stethoscope
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Chest X-ray
• Echocardiogram (also called an echo)
• Cardiac CT scan
• Cardiac catheterization
• Cardiac stress testing
• Cardiac MRI

If you’re aortic valve disease is mild, your doctor will likely use routine monitoring, medications and lifestyle changes to treat your condition.

If you have severe aortic valve disease, treatment typically involves open surgery or catheter-based intervention to repair or replace the valve. We may recommend a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI/TAVR) procedure, where a bioprosthetic valve is implanted using a catheter.

In addition, we’ve been selected to participate in several FDA-approved clinical trials to study the treatment of aortic stenosis by transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI/TAVR) leveraging the newest valve devices and implantation techniques.