AORTIC VALVE INSUFFICIENCY: CLINICAL ASPECTS, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Abstract

This narrative literature review gathered articles published preferably in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese in the last five years in the PUBMED database with the aim of reviewing aortic valve insufficiency, addressing its etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and clinical manifestations. Aortic valve insufficiency (AVR), or aortic regurgitation, occurs when the aortic valve fails to close during diastole, allowing backflow of blood from the aorta to the left ventricle. This results in volume overload, dilation and hypertrophy of the left ventricle, which can cause ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. The main causes of AVR include infective endocarditis, aortic dissection, valve degeneration, rheumatic fever and ascending aortic aneurysms. The condition can be asymptomatic for years, with symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue and angina appearing in more advanced stages. Diagnosis is mainly made by echocardiography, which evaluates the valve and ventricular function. Disease progression is influenced by factors such as age, hypertension and connective tissue diseases, and prognosis depends on severity and associated ventricular dysfunction.