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Aortic stenosis - Overview

Alternative Names

Aortic valve stenosis; Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction; Rheumatic aortic stenosis; Calcium aortic stenosis

Definition of Aortic stenosis:

The aorta is the main artery leaving the heart. When blood leaves the heart, it flows from the lower chamber (the left ventricle), through the aortic valve, into the aorta. In aortic stenosis, the aortic valve does not open fully. This restricts blood flow.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

As the aortic valve becomes more narrow, the pressure increases inside the left heart ventricle. This causes the left heart ventricle to become thicker, which decreases blood flow and can lead to chest pain. As the pressure continues to rise, blood may back up into the lungs, and you may feel short of breath. Severe forms of aortic stenosis prevent enough blood from reaching the brain and rest of the body. This can cause lightheadedness and fainting.

Aortic stenosis may be present from birth (congenital), or it may develop later in life (acquired). Children with aortic stenosis may have other congenital conditions.

In adults, aortic stenosis occurs most commonly in those who've had rheumatic fever, a condition that may develop after strep throat or scarlet fever. Valve problems do not develop for 5 - 10 years after rheumatic fever occurs. Rheumatic fever is increasingly rare in the United States.

Only rarely do other factors lead to aortic stenosis in adults. These include calcium deposits forming around the aortic valve, radiation treatment to the chest, and some medications.

Aortic stenosis is not common. It occurs more often in men than in women.

Heart, section through the middle

Heart, front view

Aortic stenosis

Heart valves

Reviewed last on: 5/15/2009
Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Outcomes Research, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Otto CM, Bonow RO. Valvular heart disease. Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2007: chap 62.

Fullerton DA, Harken AH. Acquired Heart Disease: Valvular. In: Townsend CM Jr., Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, et al., eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Saunders Elsevier, 2007. Chap: 62.

Grimard BH, Larson JM. Aortic Stenosis: Diagnosis and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2008;78(6).

Nishimura RA, Carabello BA, Faxon DP, et al. ACC/AHA 2008 Guideline update on valvular heart disease: Focused update on infective endocarditis: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines endorsed by the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52(8):676-85.

Obstructive Lesions. In: Park MK, ed. Pediatric Cardiology for Practitioners. 5th ed. Mosby Elsevier, 2008. Chap: 13.

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