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• Endocarditis

Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Congenital Defect

Bicuspid aortic valve disease is a congenital defect affecting the aortic valve.

Improper Cusp Function Causes Leaks

Instead of having the normal three cusps (also known as flaps or leaflets) to control the direction and flow of blood, a bicuspid aortic valve has only two. With only two cusps, the valve may not function properly. The cusps may be stiff (stenotic) and unable to open or close properly, or the cusps may be unable to close tightly enough and thus leaky.