Aortic Valve Regurgitation: Ongoing Concerns

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Ongoing Concerns

After you are diagnosed with long-lasting (chronic) aortic valve regurgitation, it is important that you work with your doctor to monitor the condition of your valve and report any shortness of breath, fainting, chest pain, or other symptoms immediately. (Symptoms of acute aortic valve regurgitation come on suddenly. Acute regurgitation is an emergency that requires immediate valve replacement surgery.)

If you do not have symptoms

Many people are surprised when diagnosed with chronic aortic valve regurgitation because they do not have symptoms. People with chronic regurgitation, even when moderate or severe, can have a good prognosis for many years.

Even though you may feel fine, it is important to guard against a false sense of security during this stage of chronic aortic valve regurgitation. Significant damage can occur to your heart during this period.

If you have symptoms

If you have symptoms, valve replacement surgery is the only cure for aortic valve regurgitation. If you cannot or choose not to have surgery, you likely will develop heart failure and your life span will be significantly reduced. The condition usually reduces average life expectancy to about 2 years if you develop heart failure and 4 years if you develop chest pain (angina).³ With corrective surgery, you may reach a normal life expectancy. For more information, see the topic Heart Failure.

Symptoms of chronic regurgitation most commonly develop in a person's 40s or 50s, but there is no way to gauge how quickly symptoms will develop in an individual case. Some people can remain symptom-free for decades, while in others, progression to symptoms takes 2 to 3 years. You may develop symptoms more quickly if the left ventricle does not contract fully (depressed systolic function).

Complications may develop from severe, symptomatic chronic aortic valve regurgitation. Heart failure, an infection in your heart (endocarditis), and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) are all common complications of aortic valve regurgitation that can be delayed if not prevented entirely. Reducing your risk factors for these conditions can help prevent complications. For instance, because both high blood pressure (hypertension) and regurgitation can cause heart failure, if you have both it is especially important to control your blood pressure.

It may be better to have valve replacement surgery before symptoms develop from regurgitation. Once the left ventricle becomes significantly enlarged, heart damage can be irreversible. The left ventricle can enlarge even while you are symptom-free. For this reason, visit your doctor regularly for appropriate monitoring.

Last updated:	January 24, 2008
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC