Unicuspid Aortic Valve Presenting with Decompensated Critical Aortic Stenosis

摘要

class="kwd-title">Keywords: Unicuspid, Aortic valve, Aortic stenosis, Unicommisural class="head no_bottom_margin" id="sec1title">IntroductionAortic stenosis is the most common valvular lesion in the United States, carrying an overall prevalence of 2.8% in adults >75 years of age. Congenital aortic valvular anomalies lead to accelerated progression toward aortic stenosis and therefore should be suspected when presenting in younger individuals. In this case we describe the first clinical presentation of decompensated critical aortic stenosis in a 46-year-old man with unicommisural unicuspid aortic valve (UAV). Echocardiography is indispensable in the evaluation of aortic stenosis, but echocardiographic diagnosis of UAVs is challenging, and these anomalies are often misdiagnosed as bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs). Patients with UAV require earlier and more extensive surgical intervention than their counterparts with BAVs. Thus, understanding clinical findings that prompt suspicion for UAV is necessary to trigger a more thorough evaluation of the aortic valvular complex and ensure timely clinical follow-up and intervention.