Katarína Kanáliková
Acquired valvular heart diseases of various aetiology belong to serious heart diseases of various aetiology. As the population is getting older, the main causes of valvular diseases are predominantly degenerative changes of valves. Incidence of infectious endocarditis remains stable. Other causes of valve afflictions are rare(1,2). In clinical and laboratory picture they manifest as stenosis or valvular insufficiency. Quite frequent is the combination of these defects or a combination with other acquired heart diseases and with extra-cardiac comorbidities. In adult population the most frequent are afflictions of aortic and mitral valves. Acquired defects of pulmonary and primary tricuspid valve are rare(1,2,3,4). Of big importance is the development of new cardiovascular diagnostic methods and therapeutical procedures for adequate indication and timing of invasive and operative solution of valve defects. The aim of the article is a brief description of aetiopatogenesis, clinical symptoms, complications, necessary examinations and treatment of acquired heart valvular defect, which is addressed especially to general practitioners in compliance with recent guidelines of European Heart Association (last version published in 2012)(1,2).