Re: Aortic Stenosis

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on October 08, 1998 at 19:10:06:

In Reply to: Aortic Stenosis posted by Vonnie on October 08, 1998 at 12:19:25:






Good Morning.....I am a 46 year old female with a history of aortic stenosis (diagnosed at 7 yrs old) I was told yesterday by my cardiologist that I need an aortic valve replacement and I am scared. The echocardigram showed a gradient of .7   Guess that wasn't very good in his opinion. Of course this is a bicuspid aortic valve. Symptoms have been shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, flutters etc..... the BIG question I have is...I also have systemic lupus.....what are the chances of rejection due to the lupus? Are there alternatives to the replacement? My Doctor is telling me that I need to make decisions pretty quickly.....can you help me please........
Dear Vonnie
The lupus will not cause your body to reject the valve.
If you have severe aortic stenosis, there is no other alternative to valve replacement. If you are passing out because of the valve, surgery would be best performed sooner rather than later.
I wish you the best of luck.
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