Diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiology)

Mitral stenosis

Mitral stenosis (stenosis of the left atrioventricular orifice) is an obstruction of blood flow in the left ventricle at the level of the mitral valve, preventing it from opening properly during diastole.

Mitral regurgitation

Mitral regurgitation is a leakage of the mitral valve resulting in flow from the left ventricle (LV) into the left atrium during systole.

Mitral valve prolapse: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Mitral valve prolapse is a prolapse of the mitral valve leaflets into the left atrium during systole. The most common cause is idiopathic myxomatous degeneration. Mitral valve prolapse is usually benign, but complications include mitral regurgitation, endocarditis, valve rupture, and possible thromboembolism.

Treatment of aortic stenosis

Asymptomatic patients with a peak systolic gradient < 25 mmHg and valve area > 1.0 cm have low mortality and a low overall risk of requiring surgery within the next 2 years.

Diagnosis of aortic stenosis

A presumptive diagnosis of aortic stenosis is made clinically and confirmed by echocardiography. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography is used to detect aortic valve stenosis and its possible causes.

Symptoms of aortic stenosis

Congenital aortic stenosis is usually asymptomatic until at least 10 to 20 years of age, after which symptoms may progress rapidly. In all forms, untreated progressive aortic stenosis eventually leads to syncope during exercise, angina, and shortness of breath (the so-called SAD triad).

What causes aortic stenosis?

The causes of calcified aortic stenosis are diseases accompanied by a systemic disorder of calcium metabolism, in particular Paget's disease (bone form), end-stage chronic renal failure and alkaptonuria.

Aortic stenosis: overview

Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve that limits blood flow from the left ventricle into the ascending aorta during systole. Causes include congenital bicuspid aortic valve, idiopathic degenerative sclerosis with calcification, and rheumatic fever.

Aortic regurgitation

Aortic regurgitation is a failure of the aortic valve to close, resulting in flow from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole.

Heart valve pathology: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Any heart valve can develop stenosis or insufficiency, causing hemodynamic changes long before any symptoms appear. Most often, stenosis or insufficiency is found in a single valve, but multiple valve lesions are possible.

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