Aortic insufficiency

Definition

Aortic insufficiency is a heart valve disease in which the aortic valve weakens or balloons, preventing the valve from closing tightly. This leads to backward flow of blood from the aorta (the largest blood vessel) into the left ventricle (the left lower chamber of the heart).

Alternative Names

Causes

Aortic insufficiency can result from any condition that weakens the aortic valve. The condition causes dilation (widening) of the left lower chamber of the heart, which continues to get worse with time. As this area of the heart becomes dilated, it is less able to pump blood to the rest of the aorta. The heart tries to make up for the problem by sending out larger amounts of blood with each heart contraction. This leads to a strong and forceful pulse (bounding pulse).

In the past, rheumatic fever was the primary cause of aortic insufficiency. Now that antibiotics are used to treat rheumatic fever, other causes are more commonly seen.

Causes may include valve problems that are present at birth, endocarditis, high blood pressure, Marfan's syndrome, aortic dissection, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, syphilis (now rare), systemic lupus erythematosus, and other disorders.

Aortic insufficiency affects approximately 5 out of every 10,000 people. It is most common in men between the ages of 30 and 60.

Symptoms

• Palpitations
• Bounding pulse
• Irregular, rapid, racing, pounding or fluttering pulse
• Fainting
• Weakness, particularly with activity
• Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down
• Fatigue, excessive tiredness
• Chest pain, angina type (rare)
  • Under the chest bone; pain may move to other areas of the body 
  • Crushing, squeezing, pressure, tightness
  • Pain increases with exercise, and goes away with rest

Exams and Tests

Auscultation (listening to the chest with a stethoscope) detects a heart murmur. Palpation (examination by hand) may show hyperdynamic (very forceful) beating of the heart. Pulse pressure (the difference between systolic blood pressure -- the pressure during contraction of the heart -- and diastolic blood pressure -- the pressure during relaxation of the heart) may be widened, and diastolic blood pressure may be low. There may be signs of pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).

Aortic insufficiency may be seen on:

• Echocardiogram - ultrasound examination of the heart
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
• Doppler ultrasound
• Aortic angiography
• Left heart catheterization

An ECG test or chest x-ray may show left ventricular enlargement.

Lab tests cannot diagnose aortic insufficiency, but they may be used to rule out other disorders or causative factors.

Treatment

If there are no symptoms or if symptoms are mild, you may only need to get an echocardiogram from time to time and be monitored by a health care provider.

If symptoms are severe, you may need to stay in the hospital. ACE inhibitor drugs and diuretics (water pills) may be prescribed. These medications may also be used in people with mild symptoms to prevent the symptoms from worsening. Moderate activity restriction may be recommended. People with severe symptoms should avoid strenuous activity.

Surgery to repair or replace the aortic valve corrects aortic insufficiency. The decision to have aortic valve replacement depends on your symptoms and condition and function of the heart.

Surgery to repair the aorta may be required if insufficiency is caused by disorders of the aorta.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Aortic insufficiency is curable with surgical repair. This can completely relieve symptoms unless severe heart failure is present or other complications develop. Without treatment, patients with angina or congestive heart failure do poorly.

Possible Complications

• Left-sided heart failure
• Pulmonary edema
• Endocarditis

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if symptoms indicate aortic insufficiency may be present.

Call your health care provider if you have aortic insufficiency and symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop, especially chest pain, difficulty breathing or edema (swelling).

Prevention

Treat strep infections promptly to prevent rheumatic fever, which can lead to aortic insufficiency. Aortic insufficiency caused by other conditions often cannot be prevented but some of the complications can be.

Notify your health care provider or dentist about any history of heart valve disease before treatment for any condition. Any dental work, including cleaning, and any invasive procedure can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream. This bacteria can infect a weakened valve, causing endocarditis.

Follow the provider's treatment recommendations for conditions that may cause valve disease. Notify the provider if there is a family history of congenital heart diseases