Timing and Indications for Aortic Valve Surgery in Korean Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients

https://e-kcj.org A bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart valve disease and is more common in males.1) BAV patients demonstrate various clinical courses, including a normally functioning BAV, asymptomatic aortic valve dysfunction and severe aortic valve dysfunction that requires surgery.1) 2) Occasionally, infective endocarditis might be the first clinical manifestation in BAV patients.1) 2) Moreover, ascending aortic dilatation, vascular dysfunction, and global aortic stiffness are cardiovascular risk factors for the future development of vascular complications or left ventricular dysfunction.3-6) Although BAV is likely to present with different valve phenotypes and function depending on genetic backgrounds. Insufficient data exist on the timing of and indications for aortic valve surgery in Koreans with BAV.