Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis
The condition can be associated with a heart murmur located at the right second intercostal space. Often there will be differences in blood pressures between upper and lower extremities. The diagnosis can be assisted with echocardiography (EchoCG) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Most patients with bicuspid aortic valve whose valve becomes dysfunctional will need careful follow-up and potentially valve replacement at some point in life. Regular EchoCG and MRI may be performed. For diagnosed patients, genetic testing is done to allow for future offspring with the disease to be monitored and treated early in life.
Patients with bicuspid aortic valve should be followed by a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon with specific interest in this valve pathology.
If the valve is normally functioning or minimally dysfunctional, average lifespan is similar to that of those without the anomaly.
Read more about this topic: Bicuspid Aortic Valve