Center for Heart Valve Disease Overview Valvular heart disease
is the third most common cause of heart problems in the United
States. There are four valves in the heart that direct blood
flow forward through the chambers of the heart. Heart valve
disease can occur with any one or a combination of the valves,
and it will often lead to heart failure if left untreated.
Diseases of the mitral or aortic valves (the valves of the left
side of the heart) are common, affecting over 5 percent of the
population. Heart valve disease implies that a valve either
fails to open properly (stenosis) or fails to close properly,
allowing backward flow of blood (regurgitation). The Bluhm
Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern Memorial Hospital's
Center for Heart Valve Disease is led by Robert O. Bonow, MD and
Patrick M. McCarthy, MD. Dr. Bonow is recognized internationally
for his expertise, research and teaching on both aortic and
mitral valve disease. He was recently the chairman of the
American Heart Association/American Co