Aortic Regurgitation I: Introduction

Aortic regurgitation is the backward flow of blood from the heart aorta into the left ventricle during diastole due to improper aortic valve closure, leading to left ventricular volume overload.

Aortic regurgitation can result from acute causes, such as blunt chest trauma and infective endocarditis, or chronic causes, including congenital valve abnormalities like a bicuspid aortic valve, rheumatic fever, collagen vascular diseases, and deterioration of replaced valves.

Due to one or more underlying causes, the left ventricle receives a backflow of blood and the regular inflow from the left atrium, resulting in left ventricular volume overload.

Then, the left ventricle enlarges and thickens to compensate, initially increasing stroke volume.

However, over time, elevated volume and pressure raise left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, leading to increased pressure in the left atrium and pulmonary veins.

This can eventually result in pulmonary congestion and heart failure symptoms.