[Bicuspid aortic valve].
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart disease, whose natural history is characterized by the incidence of clinically relevant valvular (stenosis, regurgitation, endocarditis) and/or vascular complications regarding the thoracic aorta (dilation, aneurysm, dissection) and, rarely, intracranial and epiaortic arteries. BAV may be heritable, with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance with reduced penetrance; moreover, some data suggest that BAV and thoracic aorta aneurysm are independent manifestations of a single gene defect. The prevalence of BAV and its susceptibility to valvular and aortic complications during the whole life result into the need of strict clinical follow-up and appropriate therapies (medical as well as surgical) to be addressed according to guidelines specifically designed for these patients.
Servizio di Cardiologia, CMSR Veneto Medica, Altavilla Vicentina (VI). snistr@tin.it
Stefano
S
Nistri
Cristina
C
Basso
Gaetano
G
Thiene
D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors