WHAT CAUSES
AORTIC STENOSIS?

CALCIUM BUILD-UP
ON THE VALVE

CALCIUM BUILD-UP ON THE VALVE

With age, heart valves may accumulate calcium deposits.

INFECTION

INFECTION

Aortic stenosis can be caused by nay infection.

RHEUMATIC
FEVER

RHEUMATIC FEVER

This may result in scar tissue or the aortic valve, which can narrow it or can create a rough surface where calcium deposits can collect.

RADIATION
THERAPY

RADIATION THERAPY

In rare cases, calcification of the aortic valve can occur more quickly in patients who have received radiation treatment to the chest.

BIRTH
DEFECT

BIRTH DEFECT

Some people are born with an aortic valve that has only one or two leaflets instead of three. This may not cause any problems until adulthood, at which time the valve may begin too narrow or leak.

REFERENCES:

  1. Aortic valve stenosis. Mayo Clinic website. www.mayoclinic.org Published March 9, 2018. Accessed February 7, 2019.
  2. Harris C, Croce B, Phan K. Aortic stenosis. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2015 Jan.
  3. Aortic valve stenosis. The University of Maryland Medical Center website. umm.edu/programs/heart/services Accessed February 7, 2019.