Aortic Regurgitation: Definition
Aortic valve incompetence results from failure of the valve to prevent leakage (regurgitation) of some of the stroke volume back into the left ventricle from the aorta. Regurgitation of blood into the left ventricle during diastole causes volume overloading.
Aortic valve incompetence can occur because of aortic valve leaflet pathology or because of aortic root disease or a combination of these factors.