What is a biscuspid aortic valve?
Most people are born with an aortic valve made of three thin cusps, however 1-2% of the population is born with an aortic valve with only 2 cusps. An aortic valve with only 2 cusps is called a biscuspid valve. Some biscuspid aortic valves can function normally and never cause a serious problem. However, some biscuspid aortic valves function abnormally and permit blood to flow backward into the heart (aortic regurgitation) or do not open easily (aortic stenosis). Over time either of these problems can cause the heart (left ventricle) to enlarge and may cause symptoms. A person with a biscuspid aortic valve may also have weakness and enlargement of the aorta (aortopathy) and should have an imaging evaluation of the aorta.
