Causes and Diagnoses

Causes and Diagnoses of Bicuspid Aortic Valve

The actual cause of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is not clear, but physicians do know that the faulty valve develops early in fetal development and is present when a baby is born. Some patients may live their whole lives unaware that they have BAV. Others will start having symptoms of a malfunctioning valve as a child, and still more as adults.

BAV affects approximately one to two percent of people. It is the most common congenital heart disorder, impacting both the aortic valve (which controls the flow of blood into the aorta) and the thoracic aorta (the major vessel that sends blood throughout the body). About nine percent of people with BAV have relatives with the disease, so family screening is important.

Diagnosing BAV

To diagnose BAV, your physician will request an echocardiogram (ECHO), a painless test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart. An ECHO can show if you have BAV and how your heart is functioning, enabling your cardiologist to make a careful assessment of your heart's condition.

Follow-up testing and long-term care

After you've been diagnosed with BAV, and even after surgical replacement of the BAV, you may still be at risk for complications with your thoracic aorta. An echocardiogram (ECHO) will be performed to establish your clinical baseline. Depending on your symptoms, additional ECHO studies may be recommended by your cardiologist. Seeing your cardiologist yearly for a check-up will help to determine if additional testing is required.

Sometimes a CT scan or MRI of the heart is also necessary to obtain accurate measurements of the aorta if the ECHO is inadequate.