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