Aortic valve regurgitation

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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Your risk of aortic regurgitation is greater if you've been affected by any of the following factors:

  • Aortic valve damage. Inflammation associated with certain conditions, such as endocarditis or rheumatic fever, can damage your aortic valve.
  • High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure causes your heart to work harder, increasing the workload for your aortic valve, which can make it less elastic and prone to leaks.
  • Malformed aortic valve. If you were born with a unicuspid or bicuspid aortic valve, your chances of having aortic regurgitation increase.
  • Disease. Certain conditions, including Marfan syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis and syphilis, may cause the aortic root (where the aorta attaches to the ventricle) to widen, resulting in a leaky aortic valve.
Complications Causes

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References
  1. Aortic regurgitation. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/print_presenter.jhtml?identifier=4448. Accessed June 20, 2011.
  2. Rakel RE, et al. Valvular heart disease. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier. 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-1160-8..10027-2--s0310&isbn=978-1-4377-1160-8&uniqId=258746827-3. Accessed June 12, 2011.
  3. O'Gara P, et al. Valvular heart disease. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2902425&searchStr=aortic+valve+insufficiency. Accessed June 18, 2011.
  4. Bashore TM, et al. Heart disease. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment. 50th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3896&searchStr=aortic+valve+insufficiency. Accessed June 18, 2011.
  5. Congestive heart failure. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4585. Accessed June 20, 2011.
  6. How the healthy heart works. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/How-the-Healthy-Heart-Works_UCM_307016_Article.jsp. Accessed June 12, 2011.
  7. Gaasch WH. Pathophysiology and clinical features of chronic aortic regurgitation in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 20, 2011.
  8. Gaasch WH. Course and management of chronic aortic regurgitation in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 20, 2011.
  9. Your guide to a healthy heart. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/your_guide/healthyheart.pdf. Accessed June 21, 2011.
  10. Otto CM. Acute aortic regurgitation in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 20, 2011.
  11. Khawaja MZ, et al. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for stenosed and regurgitant aortic valve bioprostheses. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2010;55:97.
  12. Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 6, 2011.
DS00419 Sept. 22, 2011

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