Etiology

Infective endocarditis

Aortic dissection (ascending aorta)

Chest trauma

Iatrogenic complications

Primary valvular defect

• Congenital bicuspid aortic valve: most common cause of AR in young adults in high-income countries

• Calcific aortic valve disease: most common cause of AR in older patients in high-income countries [1][3]

• Rheumatic heart disease: most common cause of AR in lower-income countries [4]

Aortic dilatation

• Connective tissue disorders (e.g., Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome)

• Chronic hypertension

• Aortitis of any etiology (e.g., tertiary syphilis)

• Thoracic aortic aneurysm