Progression Guide
Aortic stenosis
At this stage, aortic stenosis hasn’t developed yet,
but risk factors are present, such as bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and aortic valve sclerosis. BAV is a congenital heart defect that’s present from birth in about 1% of people.
Aortic valve sclerosis can develop over time, when the aortic valve becomes calcified, stiffer, and often thicker.
The aortic valve is still working at this stage, and people typically don’t have symptoms.
Stage A
Stage B
Stage C
In Stage D, severe aortic stenosis is causing noticeable symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness (angina), dizziness, or fainting. Changes to the
left ventricle may be causing heart failure.
Symptoms of heart failure include fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing, and fluid buildup that can cause weight gain and swelling in the feet, legs, abdomen,
or other parts of the body.
Stage D
In Stage B, mild to moderate aortic stenosis is present and starting to affect blood flow through the aortic valve. It may also be starting to affect the pumping ability of the heart’s left lower chamber, or left ventricle. This chamber pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body.
The heart can still pump well enough to supply the body with oxygen-rich blood, and most people don't have noticeable symptoms yet.
In Stage C, severe aortic stenosis is present without noticeable symptoms. The condition is affecting blood flow through the aortic valve. The left ventricle may not be pumping as well as it should, and its walls may be getting thicker and stiffer.
These changes can lead to heart failure, which happens when the heart can’t pump well enough to supply the body's cells with oxygen-rich blood.
BAV
Normal
Sclerosis
Moderate
Mild
Severe