Bicuspid Aortic Valve w Aortic Aneursym

[jgedling]

Hi my husband has bicuspid Aortic Valve with Aortic aneurysm=4.4cm.
He is 33,non smoker,great physical health & shape. Has had his condition monitored @ least 16 yrs. His physician has always told him light weights and after his yearly visit physician said see you next year.
Well, when I went to his visit a few days ago w him that is when the physician informed us of his aortic dilation. I said we didnt know about that.
The other issue is since the physician tells my husband everything looks great every yr my husband would up his weight lifting to non strenuous. I just asked my husband how much he is lifting & he said 150lbs. Now I am really concerned because I know he should be doing that. I expressed my concerns to his physician and only because I expressed my concerns, now the physician is changing my husbands care,recommends taking him off Lisinopril and putting him on a med that helps that aneurysm & says we can look @ surgery now if we want. If these are the recommendations just because we are concerned now, then initially why didnt he offer those. He said his stress echo was fine so see you in a year, but when i expressed our concerns then he changes the protocol. We just want the best care for my husband. Any recommendations. Once I informed physician of husbands weight lifting he said no he discourages weightlifting, I said NO you always said light weights.
Thank you

[kenkeith]

BAV is congental anomaly where the aorta valve has two leaflets rather then three.  It often appears as a problem in the third decade of life and some patients go through life without any problems.  Part of the medcial problem also relates to abnormal tissue of the root and aorta vessel.  The admonition aganst not lifting heavy wieghts has to do with the possible damage to the vessel tissue from high blood prerssure.  When lifting heavy weights thare is an increase in blood pressure and possible rupture of the tissue. Lighter weights probably don't effect the blood pressure and a lifting heavy weigths spikes the BP.

When the diameter of 4.0 cm the evaluation is an aneursym.  At that point going forward the aneursym is watched before any intervention.  Intervention is recommended if the diameter reaches 5.0 cm or if the there is growth of .05 cm in a year.  As the aneursym grows the wall becomes thinner and has the danger of rupture and intervention may be recommended.  

Lisinoprol is an ACE inhibitor and that reduces the hearts workload by dilating vessels and helps control high blood pressure and there can be medication to control heart rhythm. Smetimes medications may slow or halt the progression of the heart valve disease.    

Thanks for your questions and if you have any further questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  Hope this provides a perspective and helps you. Take care,  

Ken