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(Circulation. 2002;106:770.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Cardiology Patient Page

Aortic Valve Disease

Rick A. Nishimura, MD

From the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn.

Correspondence to Rick A. Nishimura, MD, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, 200 First St, SW, Rochester, MN 55905. E-mail rnishimura@ mayo.edu

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

It is important to diagnose and treat diseases of the aortic valve. Untreated aortic valve disease can eventually result in heart failure, severe infection, and even sudden death. Some patients present with severe symptoms, whereas others have few, if any symptoms. The diagnosis may be made on a routine physical examination. Regular medical follow-up, treatment to prevent infection of the valve (infective endocarditis), and optimal timing of surgery are necessary to avoid the severe consequences of improper function of the aortic valve.

Structure and Function of the Aortic Valve

Cardiac valves are structures that are designed to work like one-way doors (Figures 1 and 2). They let blood flow in from one chamber or vessel to another, and then close to prevent the blood from regurgitating backward. The aortic valve consists of 3 half-moon-shaped pocket-like flaps of delicate tissue, referred to as cusps. When the aortic valve is closed, the cusps are perfectly aligned and separate the large pumping chamber of the heart (the left ventricle) from the large artery (aorta) that supplies blood to the body. During the period when the left ventricle contracts and pumps the blood (systole), the aortic valve opens widely and blood flows freely from the left ventricle to the aorta. When the left ventricle then relaxes (diastole), the aortic valve closes completely so that the blood remains in the aorta. During diastole, blood flows into the left ventricle from the lungs through the left atrium across the mitral valve, thus refilling the ventricle for the next contraction.

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