Clinical Manifestations
This condition can begin silently, with symptoms appearing only once the heart can no longer compensate for a long-standing obstruction.
A progressive narrowing that becomes symptomatic over time.
This condition increases the resistance against which the left ventricle must pump.
Chronic pressure overload
This tool suggests the presence of turbulent blood flow and detects abnormal heart sounds, but it can't determine how serious the obstruction is.
Stethoscope
Interventions can help with these symptoms, but they don't reverse the mechanical obstruction.
Medical therapies for symptom relief
Age-related degeneration can cause calcium buildup, leading to a stiffened valve.
Calcific degeneration
Patients may report feeling light-headed or fainting, especially during physical activity, due to limited blood flow during exertion.
Exertional syncope
Over time, the left ventricle responds to increased workload by thickening its muscular wall.
Concentric hypertrophy
This imaging test is essential for determining valve area, pressure gradients, and overall severity.
Echochardiography
Patients are warned to avoid strenuous activity because it may dangerously reduce this variable.
Cardiac output
A congenital version of this disorder occurs when the valve forms with two leaflets instead of three.
Bicuspid valve
A patient may describe chest tightness or discomfort because the heart muscle isn’t receiving enough oxygen during increased workload.
Angina
Reduced forward flow through the affected valve decreases this essential heart performance measurement.
Stroke volume
Electrical tracing may show signs of increased muscle mass in the left ventricle.
Left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG
This minimally invasive procedure delivers a new valve using a catheter-based approach.
Transcatheter heart valve replacement, TAVR
The affected valve lies between these two major heart structures.
The left ventricle and the aorta
You may detect a delayed, weakened carotid pulse on exam.
The stiffened ventricular wall eventually limits filling, contributing to a specific type of heart failure pattern.
Diastolic dysfunction
An invasive study may be used to measure pressures directly within the heart chambers.
Cardiac catheterization
Healthy patients may undergo this open-heart procedure to replace the narrowed valve.
Surgical valve replacement
This measurement progressively decreases as the condition worsens, making ejection more difficult.
Valve area
A harsh, crescendo–decrescendo systolic murmur that radiates to the neck is characteristic of this disorder.
A murmur caused by an obstructed valve opening
Obstruction over a long period of time reduces blood flow to this major arterial vessel supplying the body.
Aorta
A chest X-ray may reveal this enlargement due to years of increased workload.
Cardiomegaly
Without corrective intervention, severe cases often progress to this fatal event.
Death from heart failure
A poor prognosis is associated with the onset of this classic symptom triad.
Angina, syncope, and heart failure