Overview

Bicuspid aortic valve is a type of heart disease that you're born with (congenital heart disease).

The aortic valve separates the left lower heart chamber (left ventricle) and the body's main artery (aorta). Flaps of tissue (cusps) on the valve open and close with each heartbeat and make sure blood flows in the right direction.

Usually the aortic valve has three cusps. A bicuspid valve has only two cusps. Rarely, some people are born with an aortic valve that has one cusp (unicuspid) or four cusps (quadricuspid).

A bicuspid aortic valve may cause heart problems, including:

• Narrowing of the aortic valve (aortic valve stenosis). As a result, the valve may not open fully. Blood flow from the heart to the body is reduced or blocked.
• Backward flow of blood (aortic valve regurgitation). Sometimes, the bicuspid aortic valve doesn't close tightly, causing blood to flow backward.
• Enlarged aorta (aortopathy). Some people who have a bicuspid aortic valve have an enlarged aorta. An enlarged aorta increases the risk of a tear in the lining of the aorta (aortic dissection).