Aortic Stenosis
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Regurgitation
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Aortic valve does not open wide enough due to stiffness of the valve causing an increased force of blood through the valve to provide the adequate blood volume to the body.
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Mitral valve does not close completely, causing blood to flow backward instead of through the valve.
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Also known as "leaky valve" disease
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Blood flows back through the valve as it closes or seaps through the valve when its completely closed.
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Affects more than two million people in the United States
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Most prevalent in women (52.6%)
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Inceases with age
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Depending on the specific valve that is affected, there are different incidence rates. Aortic regurgitation is more prevalent in males whereas tricuspid regurgitation is more prevalent in females.
Incidence
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Affects about 1 percent of the United States population
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Most common in aging Western populations.
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Most prevalent in Caucasions compared to African Americans
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More prevalent in men than women
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Affects 2.5 percent of the population in the United States
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Most prevalent in young females
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Surgical intervention is most prevalent in males
Definition
Normal Valve Function
Valves provide a one-way directional flow of blood.
How do valves work?
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Open and close
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Stenosis: valve does not open properly
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Regurgitant: valve does not close properly
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Atrial ventricular valves: lie between atria and ventricles
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RA and RV: tricuspid valve
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LA and LV: bicuspid valve
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Open during ventricular diastole (relaxation)
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Close during ventricular systole (contraction) to prevent blood from regurgitating into atria
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Semilunar valves: lie between ventricle and vessels that transport blood
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Half moon shaped
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Pulmonic semilunar valve-right side
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Aortic semilunar valve-left side
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Open during ventricular systole (contraction)
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Close during ventricular diastole (relaxation)
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Allows ventricles to fill with blood
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