Kathryn Statham , Genevieve Carbonatto
Epidemiology
- The prevalence of chronic AR is 5 -10% (mainly mild AR)
- The prevalence of moderate to severe AR 0.5 – 2.7%
- AR increases with age
- It peaks in the 4th to 6th decade of life
- It is more common in men than in women
- A formal ECHO evaluation is important for prognosis and management
- In the Emergency setting ECHO evaluation of AR is principally about assessing severity and acuity
Causes of AR
1. Valve destruction/degeneration
- sclerosis/stenosis
- infective endocarditis
- rheumatic heart disease
- aortic valve prolapse.
2. Aortic root dilatation.
- loss of leaflet coaptation
- hypertension
- connective tissue disorders (Marfans etc)
3. Congenitally abnormal valve
- bicuspid
- Unicuspid
- quadricuspid
4. Loss of commissural support
- Aortic dissection
- VSDs
- aortic trauma
