Today is Medical Monday at Aortic Hope.
A normal Aortic Valve has 3 leaflets and that is called a Tricuspid Valve. Did you know that there are individuals who only have one leaflet (Unicuspid) ,two leaflets (Bicuspid) and even four leaflets (quadricuspid) Valves?
Today we will be discussing Bicuspid Valves. As mentioned in the Mayo Clinic's article on Bicuspid Valves, a "Bicuspid Valve is a type of heart disease that you are born with (congenital heart disease). Usually the aortic valve has three cusps. A bicuspid valve has only two cusps. Rarely, some people are born with an aortic valve that has one cusp (unicuspid) or four cusps (quadricuspid).
A bicuspid aortic valve may cause heart problems, including:
Narrowing of the aortic valve (aortic valve stenosis). As a result, the valve may not open fully. Blood flow from the heart to the body is reduced or blocked.
Backward flow of blood (aortic valve regurgitation). Sometimes, the bicuspid aortic valve doesn't close tightly, causing blood to flow backward.
Enlarged aorta (aortopathy). Some people who have a bicuspid aortic valve have an enlarged aorta. An enlarged aorta increases the risk of a tear in the lining of the aorta (aortic dissection)."
If you would like to learn more about treatment options, check out the information here.
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