Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Abstract

Aortic regurgitation (AR) may be caused by valve disease (most commonly, cusp prolapse) or aortic root anomalies, but it is rare in children without other heart disease. It is more commonly associated with aortic stenosis (AS) but may also be seen in patients with ventricular septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, D-transposition of the great arteries, coarctation of the aorta, endocardial cushion defects, single ventricle, truncus arteriosus, infective endocarditis (IE), and mitral valve disease. Systemic diseases associated with AR include rheumatic fever, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Takayasu arteritis. AR related to dilation of the ascending aorta is seen in patients with Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, osteogenesis imperfecta, and rheumatoid arthritis. When significant, it may worsen preexisting AR and lead to aortic dissection. Finally, iatrogenic AR may result from balloon dilation of AS [1].