Heart & Vascular:
Conditions

The aortic valve typically consists of three leaflets; in bicuspid valve disease, there are only two functional leaflets. This can lead to aortic valve stenosis (stiffening) and regurgitation (reverse blood flow). Many patients with bicuspid valve disease require either valve replacement or replacement of a portion of the aorta because of abnormal enlargement related to the malfunctioning bicuspid valve.