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{{Aortic stenosis}}
{{Aortic stenosis}}
{{CMG}}; '''Associate Editors-In-Chief:''' Claudia P. Hochberg, M.D. [mailto:chochber@bidmc.harvard.edu], [[User:Abdarabi|Abdul-Rahman Arabi, M.D.]] [mailto:abdarabi@yahoo.com], [[User:KeriShafer|Keri Shafer, M.D.]] [mailto:kshafer@bidmc.harvard.edu], [[Priyamvada Singh|Priyamvada Singh, MBBS]] [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org], [[User:Mohammed Sbeih|Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D.]] [mailto:msbeih@perfuse.org]; '''Assistant Editor-In-Chief:''' [[Kristin Feeney|Kristin Feeney, B.S.]] [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]
{{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:''' [[User:Mohammed Sbeih|Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D.]] [mailto:msbeih@perfuse.org]; '''Assistant Editor-In-Chief:''' [[Kristin Feeney|Kristin Feeney, B.S.]] [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]


==Overview==
==Overview==
Aortic stenosis can cause many symptoms such as dizziness, [[syncope]], [[angina]], and [[congestive heart failure]]. Research has speculated that some conditions may be caused an aortic stenosis, including [[Heyde's syndrome]] and [[Von Willebrand factor]].
Cardinal symptoms of aortic stenosis include: [[syncope]], [[angina]] and [[dizziness]]. Other symptoms include: exertional dyspnea, [[orthopnea]] and [[paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea]].


==Symptoms==
In patients without intervention, [[angina]] may prove to be a fatal component of [[aortic stenosis]] with an estimated 5-year mortality rate of ~50%.
When [[symptomatic]], aortic stenosis can cause:
*Exertional dyspnea.
*Angina pectoris.
*Syncope.
*Dizziness.
Late in the disease course, symptoms of decreased cardiac output may appear on the patients. These includes:
*Marked fatigability.
*Weakness.
*Peripheral cyanosis.
*[[Congestive heart failure]].This carries a grave prognosis in patients with AS.  Patients with CHF that is attributed to AS have a 2 year mortality rate of 50%, if the aortic valve is not replaced. CHF in the setting of AS is due to a combination of systolic dysfunction (a decrease in the [[ejection fraction]]) and [[diastolic dysfunction]] (elevated filling pressure of the LV). Symptoms of LV failure may include:
:*[[Orthopnea]].
:*[[Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea]].
:*[[Pulmonary edema]].
*[[Pulmonary hypertension]] that can lead to:
:*Right ventricular failure.
:*Systemic venous hypertension.
:*[[Hepatomegaly]].
:*[[Atrial fibrillation]].
:*Tricuspid regurgitation.


Patients exhibiting multiple symptoms often experience a worsened prognosis and overall decrement in quality of life.
==Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis==
*[[Exertional dyspnea]]
*[[Angina pectoris]]
*[[Syncope]]
*[[Dizziness]]


===Associated Symptoms===
*As the disease progresses, symptoms of decreased cardiac output may appear which include:
In [[Heyde's syndrome]], aortic stenosis is associated with [[angiodysplasia]] of the [[colon (anatomy)|colon]]. Recent research has shown that the stenosis causes a form of [[von Willebrand disease]] by breaking down its associated [[coagulation]] factor ([[factor VIII]]-associated antigen, also called [[von Willebrand factor]]), due to increased turbulence around the stenosed valve.
:*[[fatigability|Marked fatigability]]
===[[Aortic stenosis symptoms angina|Angina]]===
:*[[Weakness]]
===[[Aortic stenosis symptoms syncope|Syncope]]===
:*[[Peripheral cyanosis]]
 
*Patients exhibiting multiple symptoms often experience a worsened prognosis and overall decrement in quality of life.
 
==Aortic Stenosis and Congestive Heart Failure==
*Presence of [[congestive heart failure]] carries a grave prognosis in patients with aortic stenosis.
 
*Among such patients, if the aortic valve is not replaced, they tend to have a 50% 2-year mortality rate.
 
*[[CHF]] in the setting of [[aortic stenosis]] is due to a combination of [[systolic dysfunction]] (a decrease in the [[ejection fraction]]) and [[diastolic dysfunction]] (elevated filling pressure of the left ventricle).
 
===Symptoms of left ventricular failure include:===
*[[Orthopnea]]
*[[Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea]]
*[[Pulmonary edema]]
* [[Pulmonary hypertension]] that can lead to:
:*[[Right ventricular failure]]
:*Systemic venous hypertension
:*[[Hepatomegaly]]
:*[[Atrial fibrillation]]
:*[[Tricuspid regurgitation]]
 
===Angina pectoris===
*[[Angina pectoris|Angina]] in the setting of [[heart failure]] has shown to increase mortality risk. Among patients with angina, in the absence of intervention, the 5 year mortality rate has shown to be ~50%.
 
*The occurrence of [[angina]] in the setting of [[aortic stenosis]] is secondary to the [[left ventricular hypertrophy]] ([[LVH]]) which is a consequence of constant production of increased pressure that is required to overcome the pressure gradient created by the stenosed aortic valve. While the [[myocardium|left ventricular myocardium]] gets thicker, the arteries that supply the muscle do not get significantly longer or bigger, which results in an ischemic myocardium. The [[ischemia]] may first be evident during exercise, when the heart muscle requires increased blood supply to compensate for the increased workload. The individual may complain of exertional angina. At this stage, a [[Exercise stress testing|stress test with imaging]] may be required which demonstrates ischemic myocardium.
 
*Eventually, however, the muscle will require more blood supply at rest than can be supplied by the coronary artery branches. At this point there may be signs of '''ventricular strain pattern''' on the [[EKG]], suggesting subendocardial ischemia. The subendocardium is the region that becomes ischemic because it is the most distant from the epicardial coronary arteries.
 
===Syncope===
The mechanism of [[syncope]] secondary to [[aortic stenosis]] remains unclear. Three theroeis have been hypothesized to explain the relationship between [[aortic stenosis]] and [[syncope]].
 
=====1. Severe aortic stenosis produces a nearly fixed cardiac output=====
When the patient exercises, their [[peripheral vascular resistance]] will decrease as the blood vessels of the [[skeletal muscles]] dilate to allow the muscles to receive more blood to allow them to do more work. This decrease in peripheral vascular resistance is normally compensated for by an increase in the [[cardiac output]]. Since patients with severe [[aortic stenosis]] cannot increase their cardiac output, the blood pressure falls and the patient will syncopize due to decreased blood perfusion to the [[brain]].
 
=====2. During exercise, high pressures generated by the hypertrophy of the left ventricular can result in a vasodepressor response resulting in secondary peripheral vasodilation and decreased overall blood flow to the brain=====
 
A second explanation as to why [[syncope]] may occur in [[aortic stenosis]] includes that during exercise, the high pressures generated in the [[LVH|hypertrophied left ventricle]] causes a vasodepressor response, which subsequently results in [[vasodilation|peripheral vasodilation]] which in turn causes decreased blood flow to the [[brain]]. Therefore, due to the fixed obstruction to blood flow out from the stenosed aortic valve, it may be impossible for the heart to increase its output to offset peripheral vasodilation.
 
=====3. Left ventricular hypertrophy may result in a decrement in the functional integrity of the coronary arteries and blood may be inadequate in supplying the walls of the myocardium resulting in syncope=====
 
A third mechanism may sometimes be operative. Due to the [[LVH|hypertrophy of the left ventricle]] in aortic stenosis, including the consequent inability of the [[coronary arteries]] to adequately supply blood to the [[myocardium]], [[arrhythmias]] may develop which can lead to [[syncope]].
 
Finally, in calcific aortic stenosis at least, the calcification in and around the aortic valve can progress and extend to involve the [[electrical conduction system of the heart]]. If that occurs, the result may be [[heart block]] - a potentially lethal condition of which syncope may be a symptom.
 
==Associated Conditions==
====Heyde's Syndrome====
*In [[Heyde's syndrome]], [[aortic stenosis]] is associated with [[angiodysplasia]] of the [[colon (anatomy)|colon]].  
*Presenting symptoms include: [[hematemesis]], [[melena]]
 
====Von Willebrand Disease====
*Recent research has shown that the [[aortic stenosis]] may result in a form of [[von Willebrand disease]]; wherein, due to an increased turbulence around the stenosed aortic valve, it subsequently triggers breaking down of [[coagulation]] [[factor VIII]]-associated antigen, ''(also called [[von Willebrand factor]])'' and results in a variant of [[von Willebrand disease]].


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 20:51, 9 April 2012

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D. [2]; Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [3]

Overview

Cardinal symptoms of aortic stenosis include: syncope, angina and dizziness. Other symptoms include: exertional dyspnea, orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.

In patients without intervention, angina may prove to be a fatal component of aortic stenosis with an estimated 5-year mortality rate of ~50%.

Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis

  • As the disease progresses, symptoms of decreased cardiac output may appear which include:
  • Patients exhibiting multiple symptoms often experience a worsened prognosis and overall decrement in quality of life.

Aortic Stenosis and Congestive Heart Failure

  • Among such patients, if the aortic valve is not replaced, they tend to have a 50% 2-year mortality rate.

Symptoms of left ventricular failure include:

Angina pectoris

  • Angina in the setting of heart failure has shown to increase mortality risk. Among patients with angina, in the absence of intervention, the 5 year mortality rate has shown to be ~50%.
  • The occurrence of angina in the setting of aortic stenosis is secondary to the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) which is a consequence of constant production of increased pressure that is required to overcome the pressure gradient created by the stenosed aortic valve. While the left ventricular myocardium gets thicker, the arteries that supply the muscle do not get significantly longer or bigger, which results in an ischemic myocardium. The ischemia may first be evident during exercise, when the heart muscle requires increased blood supply to compensate for the increased workload. The individual may complain of exertional angina. At this stage, a stress test with imaging may be required which demonstrates ischemic myocardium.
  • Eventually, however, the muscle will require more blood supply at rest than can be supplied by the coronary artery branches. At this point there may be signs of ventricular strain pattern on the EKG, suggesting subendocardial ischemia. The subendocardium is the region that becomes ischemic because it is the most distant from the epicardial coronary arteries.

Syncope

The mechanism of syncope secondary to aortic stenosis remains unclear. Three theroeis have been hypothesized to explain the relationship between aortic stenosis and syncope.

1. Severe aortic stenosis produces a nearly fixed cardiac output

When the patient exercises, their peripheral vascular resistance will decrease as the blood vessels of the skeletal muscles dilate to allow the muscles to receive more blood to allow them to do more work. This decrease in peripheral vascular resistance is normally compensated for by an increase in the cardiac output. Since patients with severe aortic stenosis cannot increase their cardiac output, the blood pressure falls and the patient will syncopize due to decreased blood perfusion to the brain.

2. During exercise, high pressures generated by the hypertrophy of the left ventricular can result in a vasodepressor response resulting in secondary peripheral vasodilation and decreased overall blood flow to the brain

A second explanation as to why syncope may occur in aortic stenosis includes that during exercise, the high pressures generated in the hypertrophied left ventricle causes a vasodepressor response, which subsequently results in peripheral vasodilation which in turn causes decreased blood flow to the brain. Therefore, due to the fixed obstruction to blood flow out from the stenosed aortic valve, it may be impossible for the heart to increase its output to offset peripheral vasodilation.

3. Left ventricular hypertrophy may result in a decrement in the functional integrity of the coronary arteries and blood may be inadequate in supplying the walls of the myocardium resulting in syncope

A third mechanism may sometimes be operative. Due to the hypertrophy of the left ventricle in aortic stenosis, including the consequent inability of the coronary arteries to adequately supply blood to the myocardium, arrhythmias may develop which can lead to syncope.

Finally, in calcific aortic stenosis at least, the calcification in and around the aortic valve can progress and extend to involve the electrical conduction system of the heart. If that occurs, the result may be heart block - a potentially lethal condition of which syncope may be a symptom.

Associated Conditions

Heyde's Syndrome

Von Willebrand Disease

References


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