Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Key points

• Occurs in 1-2% of the population; usually asymptomatic in childhood
• The majority eventually develop aortic stenosis or regurgitation
• Associated with a left dominant coronary circulation (the posterior descending artery arises from the circumflex instead of the right coronary artery) and Turner's syndrome
• Around 5% of patients also have coarctation of the aorta — the congenital heart defect associated with bicuspid aortic valve
• Complications: aortic stenosis/regurgitation; higher risk of aortic dissection and aneurysm formation of the ascending aorta