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I want to know how the heart valve works? What's special about the double-valve aortic valve!
The function of the heart valve is crucial and determines the flow of blood in the heart and body. However, Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) is a common heart disease that affects this process. During fetal development, BAV will fuse the two valve leaves of the aortic valve, resulting in the formation of only two valve leaves, rather than three abnormal valve leaves. This situation is very common, affecting 1.3% of adults and becoming a common form of congenital heart disease.
BAV is one of the most common heart diseases at birth and usually forms during development.
Symptoms and complications
In many cases, the bivalve aortic valve does not cause obvious problems. But it may cause patients to feel more likely to feel tired and have difficulty persisting in cardiopulmonary exercise than people with normal valve function. Over time, BAV may experience a range of complications, the most common of which include valve calcification and aortic stenosis.
Valve Calcification
When BAV becomes calcified, it may lead to aortic stenosis, a condition in which the opening of the valve becomes narrow and affects blood flow. Additionally, if the valve does not close properly, aortic counterflow can be triggered, which sometimes require cardiac surgery.
Binoflageal aortic valve may cause the heart to bear greater stress, thereby increasing the risk of aortic rupture.
Aortic Lesions
BAV is often associated with ascending aortic aneurysms, and the external structure of this artery is significantly different from the normal trivalvular aortic valve. Studies have shown that relevant genetic changes, including dependence on Fibrillin-1, may promote abnormal dilation of the aorta and arterial dissection.
Pathophysiology
Valve leaves of BAV usually fusion, the most common case is 80% fusion between the right coronary artery and the left coronary artery valve leaflets. In addition, depending on the fusion pattern, it will have an impact on the successive complications and heart function.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis is usually performed by cardiac ultrasound or MRI and can provide more accurate blood flow characteristics analysis and patterns through 4D MRI technology. For the treatment of structural heart problems, surgical methods are usually chosen, including aortic valve replacement or balloon valve plasty.
Prognosis and Epidemiology
While some people can live normally, about one-third of patients with BAV experience significant complications, including stenosis of the aortic opening and dilation of the aorta. Epidemiological data on this pathology show that BAV accounts for about 1% to 2% in the general population, and its gender distribution is twice the incidence of males than females.
Genetic factors play an important role in the formation of bivalve aortic valves, and the incidence of comorbidities should not be underestimated.
For patients with this disease, regular medical examinations and follow-up are crucial. Only in this way can possible complications be detected early and corresponding treatment can be carried out in a timely manner. So, do you have enough awareness of your own or your family’s heart health?
