Locations Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017   |   Locations
314-434-1500 314-434-1500   |   Contact Us

Multimedia Encyclopedia

BACK
TO
TOP
 
E-mail Form
Email Results

 
 
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks
bookmarks-menu

Bicuspid aortic valve

Bicommissural aortic valve; Valvular disease - bicuspid aortic valve; BAV

 

A bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is an aortic valve that only has 2 leaflets, instead of 3.

The aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta. The aorta is the major blood vessel that brings oxygen-rich blood to the body.

Causes

 

The aortic valve allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the heart to the aorta. It prevents the blood from flowing back from the aorta into the heart when the pumping chamber relaxes.

BAV is present at birth (congenital). An abnormal aortic valve develops during the early weeks of pregnancy, when the baby's heart is developing. The cause of this problem is unclear, but it is the most common congenital heart defect . BAV often runs in families.

A BAV may not be completely effective at stopping blood from leaking back into the heart. This leakage is called aortic regurgitation . The aortic valve may also become stiff and not open up. This is called aortic stenosis , which causes the heart to pump harder than usual to get blood through the valve. The aorta may become enlarged with this condition.

BAV is more common among males than females.

A BAV often exists in babies with coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of the aorta). BAV is also seen in diseases in which there is a blockage to blood flow on the left side of the heart.

 

Symptoms

 

Most of the time, BAV is not diagnosed in infants or children because it causes no symptoms. However, the abnormal valve can leak or become narrow over time.

Symptoms of such complications may include:

  • Baby or child tires easily
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Rapid and irregular heartbeat ( palpitations )
  • Loss of consciousness (fainting)
  • Pale skin

If a baby has other congenital heart problems, they may cause symptoms that will lead to the discovery of a BAV.

 

Exams and Tests

 

During an exam, the health care provider will likely find signs of a BAV including:

  • Enlarged heart
  • Heart murmur
  • Weak pulse in the wrists and ankles

Tests that may be ordered include:

  • MRI , which provides a detailed image of the heart
  • Echocardiogram , which is an ultrasound that views the heart structures and blood flow inside the heart

If the provider suspects complications or additional heart defects, other tests may include:

  • Chest x-ray
  • Electrocardiogram ( ECG ), which measures the electrical activity of the heart
  • Cardiac catheterization , a procedure in which a thin tube (catheter) is placed into the heart to see blood flow and take accurate measurements of blood pressure and oxygen levels
  • MRA , an MRI that uses a dye to view the blood vessels of the heart

 

Treatment

 

The infant or child may need surgery to repair or replace a leaky or narrowed valve, if complications are severe.

A narrowed valve can also be opened through cardiac catheterization. A fine tube (catheter) is directed to the heart and into the narrow opening of the aortic valve. A balloon attached to the end of the tube is inflated to make the opening of the valve larger.

Medicine may be needed to relieve symptoms or prevent complications. Medicines may include:

  • Drugs that lower the workload on the heart (beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors)
  • Drugs that make the heart muscle pump harder (inotropic agents)
  • Water pills (diuretics)

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

How well the baby does depends on the presence and severity of complications of BAV.

The presence of other physical problems at birth also can affect how well a baby does.

Most babies with this condition have no symptoms, and the problem is not diagnosed until they are adults. Some people never find out that they have this problem.

 

Possible Complications

 

Complications of BAV include:

  • Heart failure
  • Leakage of blood through the valve back into the heart
  • Narrowing of the valve's opening
  • Infection of the heart muscle or aortic valve

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call your child's provider if your baby:

  • Has no appetite
  • Has unusually pale or bluish skin
  • Seems to tire easily

 

Prevention

 

BAV runs in families. If you know of this condition in your family, speak to your provider before becoming pregnant. There is no known way to prevent the condition.

 

 

Open References

References

Braverman AC. The bicuspid aortic valve and associated aortic disease. In: Otto CM, Bonow RO, eds. Valvular Heart Disease: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease . 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 13.

Carabello BA. Valvular heart disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 75.

Otto CM, Bonow RO. Valvular heart disease. In: Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 63.

 
  • Congenital heart defect overview

    Congenital heart defect overview

    Animation

    •  

    Congenital heart defect overview - Animation

    Facts, causes, and treatment of congenital heart defects.

  • Bicuspid aortic valve

    Bicuspid aortic valve - illustration

    A bicuspid aortic valve is an aortic valve that only has two leaflets, instead of three. The aortic valve allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the heart to the aorta. It prevents the blood from flowing back from the aorta into the heart. An abnormal aortic valve develops during the early weeks of pregnancy, when the baby's heart develops.

    Bicuspid aortic valve

    illustration

  • Congenital heart defect overview

    Animation

    •  

    Congenital heart defect overview - Animation

    Facts, causes, and treatment of congenital heart defects.

  • Bicuspid aortic valve

    Bicuspid aortic valve - illustration

    A bicuspid aortic valve is an aortic valve that only has two leaflets, instead of three. The aortic valve allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the heart to the aorta. It prevents the blood from flowing back from the aorta into the heart. An abnormal aortic valve develops during the early weeks of pregnancy, when the baby's heart develops.

    Bicuspid aortic valve

    illustration

A Closer Look

 

    Tests for Bicuspid aortic valve

     
       

      Review Date: 5/6/2016

      Reviewed By: Scott I. Aydin, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

      The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

       
       
       

       

       

      A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.



      Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.