In rheumatic heart disease, which valve is second most commonly affected?

In rheumatic heart disease, which valve is second most commonly affected?

• A. Mitral Valve (MV)
• B. Aortic Valve (AOV)
• C. Tricuspid Valve (TV)
• D. Pulmonary Valve (PV)

Answer: (B)

Rheumatic heart disease most often targets valves under high hemodynamic stress, with the mitral valve being affected first and most frequently. The immune-driven inflammation causes thickening, commissural fusion, and restricted motion of the mitral leaflets, leading to mitral stenosis or regurgitation. The aortic valve follows as the second most commonly involved because it shares the same left-sided, high-pressure environment and can develop cusp thickening, stenosis, or regurgitation as the inflammatory process extends. Over time, the aortic cusps may become fibrotic and calcified. The tricuspid and pulmonary valves are less commonly involved since they experience lower pressures and are typically affected later, if at all. So the aortic valve is the second most commonly affected in rheumatic heart disease.

Rheumatic heart disease most often targets valves under high hemodynamic stress, with the mitral valve being affected first and most frequently. The immune-driven inflammation causes thickening, commissural fusion, and restricted motion of the mitral leaflets, leading to mitral stenosis or regurgitation. The aortic valve follows as the second most commonly involved because it shares the same left-sided, high-pressure environment and can develop cusp thickening, stenosis, or regurgitation as the inflammatory process extends. Over time, the aortic cusps may become fibrotic and calcified. The tricuspid and pulmonary valves are less commonly involved since they experience lower pressures and are typically affected later, if at all. So the aortic valve is the second most commonly affected in rheumatic heart disease.