Purpose of review: This article outlines the key research contribution to bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy over the past 18 months.
Recent findings: Investigators have further defined the current gaps in knowledge and the scope of the clinical problem of BAV aortopathy. Support for aggressive resection strategies is waning as evidence mounts to suggest that BAV is not similar to genetic connective tissue disorders with respect to aortic risks. The role of cusp fusion patterns and valve-mediated hemodynamics in disease progression is a major area of discovery. Molecular and cellular mechanisms remain elusive and contradictory.
Summary: BAV aortopathy is a major public health problem that remains poorly understood. New insights on valve-mediated hemodynamics using novel imaging modalities may lead to more individualized resection strategies and improved clinical guidelines.