Management decisions in aortic regurgitation: has the time for exercise assessment finally arrived?

Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a problem of moderate but increasing frequency. Current data suggest that AR of some degree affects approximately 5% to 10% of the population and increases in frequency and severity with age (1). When severe, AR gradually leads to irreversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, heart failure, and death; indeed, sudden death occurs in asymptomatic patients when intrinsic myocardial dysfunction is severe, even if LV ejection fraction (EF)