mild aorticregurgitation grade 1+

HI,
I am 31 years old and just been diagnosed woth mild aortic insufficiency. My question is how should I deal wih this in the long term and is operation inevitable? I have never had any major troubles related with my health and this aortic regurgitation diagnose was a big setback for me. I would appreciate any opinions.
Best wishes to all of you

[markmsn10]

Was this diagnosed from the aortic insufficiency murmur or by coincidence from an echocardiogram?   Trivial/mild leaks for the most part from the aortic valve (without evidence of enlarged aortic root or leaflet abnormalities) is usually physiologic and requires no followup and generally doesn't lead to progression.  

Did they find other evidence of this leak other than doppler?

[mba1977]

Hi marksmn10, thanks a lot for the answer.
It was dicovered on a routine echocardiogram exam, and there were no evidence of enlarged aortic root.The echocardiogram did not reveal any other abnormalities .The doctor said I should do follow up with echo every two years. What scares me is that the mild leaking is on aortic valve and I wanted to know are there other people with the same diagnosis and is it possible to keep this regurgitation stable for long time. By the way the doctor also said that it might be physiologic leak just as you mentioneoned marksmn 10 and that confuses me a little bit as some info says mild aortic regurgitation is always pathologic. But it seems there are different opinions on this subject.
Tnx again marksmn10 and best wishes to you and everyone on this forum

[markmsn10]

I have trivial leak on my aortic valve; was never actually mentioned to me until a year later when I requested the report.   So I assume it's nothing...  especially if it's not heard... they can't detect an aortic murmur which is more of a diagnosis than trivial/mild leaks.   In fact many routine echos will show leaks of other valves... the fact that aortic is found sometimes is unknown.   I was concerned just as you... but I was going in for an echo for a different murmur and found this as incidence... I assume many others have trivial to mild aortic leaks of no significance.   The primary causes are aortic root dilation, supracristal VSD's (not likely unless one leaflet is being pulled into the hole) or leaflet trauma (unequal sized, calcified, or bicuspid)

Other than that I would think you're in the clear.   I haven't gone back in for an echo for 5 years now but Dr's never can hear any aortic leak murmurs at all.

[mba1977]

Tnx again  markmsn10. I really apreciate your opinion and support. And it's great that the docs can not hear any aortic leak murmur with you. It's great to hear that it is insignificant in your case.
It's nice sharing experiences as it was totally unexpected for me. Before the echo few days ago  the doc listened to me with stethoscope and said he could not hear nothing special. But than the echo showed this mild aortic regurgitation and it was just a blow for me. And the fear of eventual surgery is pretty scarry for me, as for everyone I guess.
all the best

[markmsn10]

Yeah you'll probably be just fine; I was doing some more reading about inaudible aortic insufficiency and they found it in some 7 out of 78 people which goes into that figure that I found... insigificant physiologic in those cases and picked up by sensitive equipment.   It is possible it may not exist on the next echo though.   If anybody else has had diagnosis of trivial/mild aortic leaks they might chime in as well.

[mba1977]

Tnx marksmn10, your comments were very helpful for detecting the situation ans supportive. If there are some others with mild aortic insuffciency it would also be nice to hear their experiences.

[Mnaquin]

I am 37 years old and with the exception of Congential heart defect, I am a healthy female.  my doctor told me that one day I will need a valve replacement. I have an appointment friday for my check up but for the past month I have been very tired.  I went for a run this past weekend and it took a long time for my pulse to go down. It normally doesnt do that but I was a little concerned. After that run, I was very tired and just did not feel well. Do you know of anyone my age that has had a valve replacement or started with symptoms? I wanted to get other opinions.
Thanks!