Aortic valve stenosis (narrowed heart valve)

Aortic valve stenosis is the most common heart valve defect in old age.

Aortic valve stenosis is an age-related or predisposed disease of the movable heart valve that separates the left ventricle from the aorta. As a result, the opening movement of the valve is impaired and the flow of blood between the heart and body is made more difficult. Over the course of several years, this additional load on the heart can lead to reduced performance and heart failure. Typical symptoms of aortic valve stenosis are shortness of breath, cardiac insufficiency, angina pectoris and dizziness.

The optimal therapy strategy for patients with aortic valve stenosis, which is developed by our interdisciplinary team, depends on the appearance and stage of the heart valve defect.

With three other valves in the heart, the aortic valve ensures that the blood flows in only one direction. It connects the left ventricle with the aorta and functions like a valve.

In a healthy state, the aortic valve works like this: When the left ventricle contracts, the aortic valve opens its valve pockets - and blood flows from the ventricle into the aorta. Then the valve pockets close again, preventing blood from flowing back into the ventricle.

Symptoms

As a result of aortic valve stenosis, chest pain may occur, a feeling of tightness and weakness, shortness of breath or fainting, especially during exertion. Aortic valve stenosis cannot be cured with medication. However, treatment is mandatory because severe symptomatic stenosis can lead to dangerous heart muscle weakness (heart failure).

Causes

To regulate the blood flow, the valves must close properly. This function is disturbed if calcium deposits are deposited on the valves due to age or an unhealthy lifestyle. The calcium causes the valves to stiffen and the opening between the ventricle and the aorta to narrow. Possible causes of aortic valve stenosis may be

Ageing processes lead to calcification of the heart valves
Inflammations (endocarditis) lead to calcification of the heart valves
Congenital aortic valve malformations
Congenital aortic valve stenosis

Diagnosis for aortic valve stenosis

The diagnosis of aortic valve stenosis is performed in several stages and involves a wide variety of methods. In addition to the specific anamnesis by the physician, the physical examination, such as listening to the heart with a stethoscope, including a blood pressure measurement, already provides important indications of possible heart disease. Further diagnostic methods for aortic valve stenosis (heart valve defects) are:

Echocardiography (ultrasound examination of the heart)
Special imaging techniques: computed tomography of the heart (cardio-CT), magnetic resonance imaging of the heart (C-MRT)
Cardiac catheter examination (probing the heart with catheters via inguinal or arm vessels)