Bicuspid Aortic Valve-- Murmur??? Just found?

Question

I was just told by a cardiologist that I have a bicuspid aortic valve. I am 25 and have never been told this before. No one has ever head any thing wrong with my heart and I had an ECOcardio done 7 years ago and nothing was found. Why now, 7 years later after a new ECo did they suddenly see this? I figure this means that I have always had this but it seems to be making itself noticable now.
I went to the doc in the first place because I recently starting having palpitations.

Answer 1

There is no problem you should be reassured. I think they just want a confirmation, this brief summary will help you out, OK:

Symptoms: Bicuspid aortic valve without aortic stenosis does not cause any symptoms.

Physical findings: The presence of an extra heart sound called a "click" and a heart murmur alert the doctor to the possible diagnosis. Since the findings can be quite subtle, the diagnosis may not be made until later childhood or even adulthood.

Medical tests: The suspected diagnosis is confirmed by an echocardiogram. Other tests include an electrocardiogram and chest x-ray.

Answer 2

Yes you would have always had this, it's something you were born with.
A normal aortic valve is tricuspid, that is it has three closing flaps, but a bicuspid valve only has two flaps.

Sometimes these bicuspid valves give no problems, but in some people they can lead to heart murmur later in life ( usually in your 30s or 40s ) because they allow a little blood to leak back the wrong way when they are closed.

If this gets severe enough, you may need surgery to fit an artificial valve. This is pretty commonplace nowadays and not something to worry about.

Answer 3

They may have missed this during your first echo or the murmur may be getting worse, which is why it was diagnosed the second time.

It is very important that you take antibiotics before any dental work to keep the valve murmor from getting worse. Some dentists now require that you have your cardiologist fill out a short form and sign it.

A number of dentists are now saying that patients with heart valve conditions do not need prophylactic antibiotic treatment for some procedures. Some cardiologists are saying this too. Don't believe them. It's YOUR BODY and you do not want to take any chance on a valve murmur becoming worse.

I have a minor mitral valve prolapse. Someone in my family with a prolapse suffered a fatal heart attack after a dental appointment in the 1970s. Back then, there was not much knowledge concerning heart valve conditions and antibiotics before dental treatment.

My cardiologist filled out the form indicating I need antibiotics. My dentist thinks they should only be used before a cleaning, not before getting a cavity filled. I ALWAYS TAKE antibiotics before ANY dental work in order to be on the safe side.

Answer 4

Sometimes bicuspid aortic valves can be missed on a regular transthorasic (thru the skin) echo. To be on the safe side you should really have a transesophageal echo (thru the mouth/esophagus) to really make sure that is what they are seeing. That test is much more accurate. With the bicuspid aortic valve, as you get older it will become more and more stiff and eventually you will probably have to have a valve replacement.