Aortic regurgitation: from mechanisms to management.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a prevalent cardiovascular disease with substantial morbidity and mortality.
• Accurate assessment of AR severity and cardiac impact is crucial for patient management.
• Technological advancements enhance risk stratification and understanding of AR pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of aortic regurgitation.
• To discuss the prevalence, underlying mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies for AR.
• To review current and emerging treatment modalities for AR.

Main Methods:

• Review of current medical literature on aortic regurgitation.
• Analysis of non-invasive imaging techniques for AR assessment.
• Evaluation of established and novel treatment options for AR.

Main Results:

• Non-invasive imaging is key to determining AR severity and cardiac effects.
• Surgical aortic valve replacement is the primary treatment but is risk-stratified.
• Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an emerging alternative requiring further data.

Conclusions:

• AR necessitates thorough investigation and tailored treatment strategies.
• Both surgical and transcatheter interventions have roles in managing AR.
• Continued research is vital for optimizing AR patient outcomes.