5. Bicuspid aortic valve
Much like the previous cause that we covered, a bicuspid aortic valve is a congenital condition meaning that it was present from birth. In bicuspid aortic valves, only two cups are present rather than the standard three. There are also some cases where a patient is born with either one or four cups though these are significantly rarer than bicuspid aortic valves. There are no confirmed reports featuring five or more cups.
Due to the lack of the third cup, the aortic valve becomes narrower. This narrowing of the valve restricts the flow of blood out of the heart. The increased stress put upon the valve could increase the odds of developing an aortic dissection. Many patients with bicuspid aortic valves don’t even notice the issue until they reach adulthood as most children are asymptomatic. That being said, some children do experience valve-related issues due to the lack of a third cup.