Unusual aortic valve anomaly in the fetus: a case report

Fetal Diagn Ther. 2012;32(3):221-4. doi: 10.1159/000341376. Epub 2012 Aug 24.

Abstract

Aortic valve anomalies in fetal life usually concern aortic valve stenosis, in severe forms associated to left ventricular impairment - endocardial fibroelastosis and mitral valve insufficiency. Isolated aortic regurgitation in utero is infrequent and is usually considered to be due to a rare anomaly: aorto-left ventricular tunnel. We describe an unusual case of fetal aortic valve anomaly with severe dysplasia, with a marked regurgitant flow through the aortic valve, passing in a retrograde way from the duct, associated with a marked left ventricular endocardial fibroelastosis and dysfunction, resulting in the fatal outcome of the case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aortic Valve / abnormalities*
  • Aortic Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve / embryology
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / embryology*
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / pathology
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • Cardiac Output, Low / etiology
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
  • Endocardial Fibroelastosis / etiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Term Birth
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal