[Stenosis of the aortic valve].

The disease condition underlying the stenosis of the aortic valve resembles atherosclerosis and is dominated by activation of inflammatory cells, and accumulation of cholesterol and involves progressive fibrosis and calcification. Stenosis of the aortic valve may remain asymptomatic for long. Characteristic symptoms include exertional dyspnea and asthenia, angina pectoris type chest pain or loss of consciousness on exertion. The essential clinical finding on examination is a systolic murmur of the heart. Doppler ultrasonography of the heart is the diagnostic cornerstone. Stenosis of the aortic valve is treated with prosthetic valve surgery.