Aortic incompetence: A comparative aetiological study of two patient groups

Summary  A Etiological factors associated with aortic incompetence were studied in 100 cases retrospectively and in 50 cases prospectively. In the prospective group aortic incompetence was associated less frequently with disease of other valves, because of a lower incidence of rheumatic fever. In this group the higher frequency of disease confined to the aortic valve was related to a higher incidence of bicuspid valve, which is now the commonest cause of aortic incompetence. Rheumatoid disease is a relatively important cause of aortic incompetence, and syphilitic aortic valve disease has not disappeared.