17 Mar 08
Degenerative aortic stenosis
By R Ramaraj, V L Sorrell
Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular lesion in Europe and North America. It primarily presents as calcific aortic stenosis in 2-7% of the population aged >65 years. About 80% of adult patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis are male. As 1-2% of the population is born with a congenital bicuspid aortic valve and populations are ageing, aortic stenosis is becoming more common. By 2020, about 3.5 million people in England are expected to have aortic sclerosis and 150000 will have severe aortic stenosis. Here we provide an overview to help diagnosis and a summary of the management of AS and its sequelae. Many of the points made in this review are based on randomised controlled trials. However, observational studies and the guideline recommendations of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology and of the European Society of Cardiology are also included to provide comprehensive overviews that are beyond the scope of this article.