Iveta Šimková, Pavol Chňupa
Aortic stenosis (AS), predominantly degenerative, is the most common acquired valvular disorder found in developed countries. This chronic progressive disease carries substantial morbidity, mortality and thus requires careful management in the entire development. Management consists of periodic history evaluation in order to detect symptoms (dyspnoe, angina, syncope, and heart failure), physical examination, echocardiographic assessment of AS severity. Medical therapy to slow the progression of AS, does not exist nowadays. In the follow-up the predictors of bad prognosis (echocardiographic, clinical: risk and exercise factors) accelerating the AS progression should be considered. Risk factors modification is the part of conservative management. Aortic valve replacement is the only effective therapy in symptomatic patients with severe AS.