Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Aortic Valve Stenosis

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Aortic Valve Stenosis

Aortic valve stenosis—or aortic stenosis—occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows.

Insight:

• Aortic valve stenosis causes the valve not to open fully, which reduces or blocks blood flow from the heart into the main artery (aorta) and to the rest of the body.
• Signs and symptoms include abnormal heart sound, chest pain, feeling faint or dizzy, shortness of breath, fatigue, rapid fluttering heartbeat, not eating enough, and not gaining weight.
• Causes of aortic valve stenosis include congenital heart defect, calcium build-up on the valve, and rheumatic fever.
• Risk factors include older age, certain heart conditions present at birth, history of infections, chronic kidney disease, history of radiation therapy to the chest.
• Treatment options include aortic valve repair, balloon valvuloplasty, aortic valve replacement, transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Sources:

• aortic valve stenosis - Google Search
• Aortic valve stenosis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic