Symptoms

Symptoms of Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Normally functioning bicuspid aortic valves don’t usually cause symptoms. For some patients, one of the earliest indicators of BAV may be a heart murmur, which is an abnormal sound caused by the turbulent flow of blood over a diseased heart valve.

Less than five percent of people with BAV will develop complications from the disease. Those who do have complications may experience:

• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain or pressure
• Fatigue
• Heart racing
• Light-headedness
• Fainting

Disorders of the aortic wall

BAV is associated with disorders of the aortic wall, including aortic root aneurysm, ascending aortic aneurysm and coarctation of the aorta. For patients with BAV, disorders of the aortic wall occur at a significantly higher rate and earlier in life, compared to those with healthy heart valves. Surgery for patients with disorders of the aortic wall is essential for ensuring long life.

Disorders of the aortic wall can occur in any patient with BAV, including those who have had aortic valve replacement. Because of this, your physician should monitor the size and shape of the aorta after a BAV diagnosis and throughout your lifetime.

Patients with aortic wall disorders are at risk for a type of aortic wall disorder called aortic dissections: bleeding into and along the wall of the aorta. Aortic dissections can occur with no warning and require immediate surgery. Symptoms of an aortic dissection include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Stroke
• Abdominal pain
• Leg pain