What valve anomaly causes a bounding diastolic murmur with wide pulse pressures?

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Last updated: March 23, 2025View editorial policy

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Differential Diagnosis for Bounding Diastolic Murmur with Wide Pulse Pressures

  • Single most likely diagnosis
    • Aortic regurgitation: This condition is characterized by the leakage of the aortic valve, allowing blood to flow back into the left ventricle during diastole. The wide pulse pressure is due to the increased stroke volume, and the bounding diastolic murmur is a classic sign of this condition.
  • Other Likely diagnoses
    • Pulmonary regurgitation: Although less common, pulmonary regurgitation can also cause a diastolic murmur. However, the wide pulse pressure is more typically associated with aortic regurgitation.
  • Do Not Miss diagnoses
    • Aortic dissection: Although not primarily a valvular anomaly, aortic dissection can cause aortic regurgitation and present with a wide pulse pressure and diastolic murmur. Missing this diagnosis can be catastrophic.
    • Endocarditis: Infective endocarditis can cause valvular damage leading to regurgitation, including aortic regurgitation. It's crucial to consider this diagnosis due to its potential severity and need for prompt treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses
    • Traumatic aortic valve injury: A rare condition where the aortic valve is damaged due to trauma, potentially leading to regurgitation and the described symptoms.
    • Congenital aortic valve anomalies: Certain congenital conditions, such as a bicuspid aortic valve with regurgitation, can present with similar symptoms, although they are less common causes of a bounding diastolic murmur with wide pulse pressures in adults.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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