Aortic Stenosis
Disease Description
Aortic stenosis is a heart valve disease that can be either congenital or acquired. In this condition, the leaflets of the aortic valve—located at the exit of the left ventricle into the aorta—become fused or stiffened. As a result, valve mobility during opening and closing is significantly restricted, impeding normal blood flow through the valve.
This leads to blood stagnation in the left ventricle and insufficient blood supply to vital organs throughout the body.
Causes of the Disease
Acquired aortic stenosis may be caused by conditions such as Paget’s disease, calcification of the aortic valve, infective endocarditis, aortic atherosclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatic heart disease, and other systemic disorders.
Congenital aortic stenosis is associated with a congenital narrowing of the aortic orifice or with abnormal valve development, most commonly a bicuspid aortic valve.
Congenital forms of the disease usually manifest before the age of 30, whereas acquired aortic stenosis typically develops later in life, most often after the age of 60.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of aortic stenosis include dizziness, episodes of blurred or darkened vision, generalized weakness, and increased fatigue. These symptoms are caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain.
Other symptoms may include pressure-like chest pain and shortness of breath, which result from reduced blood supply to the heart muscle (myocardium).
Diagnosis
If the symptoms described above occur, consultation with a cardiologist is essential. One of the most specific and widely used diagnostic methods for aortic stenosis is echocardiography.
This ultrasound-based imaging technique not only confirms the presence of the disease but also allows assessment of its severity, evaluation of blood congestion in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension), and determination of surgical operability.
Treatment
Treatment of aortic stenosis can be divided into two main approaches:
1. Conservative Treatment
A set of measures aimed at lifestyle modification and medication therapy designed to reduce clinical symptoms and slow disease progression.
2. Surgical Treatment
Surgical intervention aimed at restoring normal blood flow through the narrowed aortic valve, thereby ensuring adequate blood supply to all organs. The procedure involves replacing the diseased, poorly functioning valve with either a mechanical or biological prosthetic valve.
In elderly patients, valve replacement may be performed without open surgery using a transcatheter approach, in which the valve is implanted via a catheter inserted through the femoral artery.
Treatment Prognosis
Without treatment, the natural course of aortic stenosis can rapidly lead to disability. In advanced cases, the disease may be complicated by myocardial infarction or stroke, potentially resulting in death.
Once symptoms of severe heart failure develop, average life expectancy does not exceed one year. Without surgical intervention, mortality within two years reaches up to 80%. Therefore, if you experience the symptoms described above, we strongly recommend contacting our specialists for a detailed consultation.