Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital heart defect in which the aortic valve has only two leaflets instead of the normal three. This can lead to problems with blood flow through the valve, including aortic stenosis (narrowing) and aortic regurgitation (leakage).
There are two types of BAV: one in which the valve has two normal leaflets that fuse together (Type 1) and one in which the valve has two abnormal leaflets (Type 2).
BAV can lead to aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation, which can cause symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. In some cases, it can also lead to an aortic aneurysm (a bulge in the wall of the aorta) or aortic dissection (a tear in the wall of the aorta).
BAV is important to diagnose and monitor because it can lead to serious complications if left untreated. It is usually diagnosed by echocardiogram, a non-invasive ultrasound test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart.
It can be also monitored by regular echocardiograms and other imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans.
BAV is a genetic disorder and it often runs in families, but the exact genetic cause is not known. Individuals with BAV are at increased risk for aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and aortic aneurysm. It is important for individuals with BAV to be closely monitored by a cardiologist or a heart specialist.
Recommend checking out the following sources for more information:
- The American College of Cardiology (ACC)
- The American Heart Association (AHA)
- The European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
- National Institute of Health (NIH)
- World Health Organization (WHO)