Aortic Valve Stenosis

Cause

Most people who have aortic valve stenosis are born with a normal, healthy aortic valve but develop aortic stenosis late in life. Aging and calcium buildup cause the leaflets of the valve to thicken and harden, preventing the valve from opening properly. Typically, stenosis develops slowly over many years.

Aortic valve stenosis also occurs in people who are born with a valve that has two flaps instead of three (congenital bicuspid valve) or in people who have had rheumatic fever. In either of these cases, the leaflets do not open as widely as they should. This creates a smaller opening and makes it much harder for blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta.

More information How does rheumatic fever cause stenosis? How do congenital heart defects cause stenosis?

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: November 14, 2007
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine George Philippides, MD - Cardiology
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