Untitled Deck Flashcards
What is aortic regurgitation (AR)?
Aortic regurgitation (AR) is the leaking of the aortic valve of the heart that causes blood to flow in the reverse direction during ventricular diastole.
What can cause aortic regurgitation?
AR can be caused either by disease of the aortic valve or by distortion or dilation of the aortic root and ascending aorta.
What are the causes of AR due to valve disease?
Causes include rheumatic fever, calcific valve disease, connective tissue diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis/SLE), and bicuspid aortic valve.
What are the causes of AR due to aortic root disease?
Causes include spondylarthropathies (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis), hypertension, syphilis, Marfan’s syndrome, and Ehler-Danlos syndrome.
What are the acute causes of aortic regurgitation?
Acute causes include infective endocarditis and aortic dissection.
What are the features of aortic regurgitation?
Features include an early diastolic murmur, collapsing pulse, wide pulse pressure, Quincke’s sign, and De Musset’s sign.
What is the mid-diastolic murmur associated with severe AR?
The mid-diastolic Austin-Flint murmur occurs due to partial closure of the anterior mitral valve cusps caused by the regurgitation streams.
How should suspected aortic regurgitation be investigated?
Suspected AR should be investigated with echocardiography.
What is the management for aortic regurgitation?
Management includes medical management of any associated heart failure and surgery for symptomatic patients with severe AR or asymptomatic patients with severe AR who have LV systolic dysfunction.
