Questions posted in the Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Subject: Re: Bi-cuspid aortic valve
Forum: The Heart Forum
Topic Area: Heart Murmur
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD-APS on February 19, 1999 at 08:17:02:
In Reply to: Bi-cuspid aortic valve posted by Noel on February 16, 1999 at 15:36:39:


I'm a 42 year old male and was found to have a bi-cuspid aortic valve in 1990. I had a echocardiogram done that show I had this all my life. At that time it was functioning fine and was informed that I could do anything that a tri-cuspid valve person could do. I am a full time firefighter(17+ years) and now the valve is starting to leak and may need to have it replaced. Can you give me your opinion if my line off work could have helped with the sudden change in the valve. I am a non-smoker and in good shape. Thank you for your time and opinion.


Dear Noel,
HIGHLY unlikely that your job had anything to do with the deterioration of your
bicuspid valve. All bicuspid valves eventually become problematic, usually stenotic
by the age of 50 or so, and less frequently they leak (often this precedes the stenosis- stenosis is
the tightening up of the valve that impedes blood flow.)

There is a procedure (developed in past 5 years) called valve repair that should
be at least considered in all valvular disease prior to replacement (especially in young patients.)
Regardless of repair, ALL BICUSPID aortic valves eventually need replacement.

I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!

If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.

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