The most common causes of aortic insufficiency are acute joint rheumatism and bicuspid (congenital two-leaflet) aortic valve. In rheumatoid arthritis, the aortic valve thickens and causes traction on the valve. Bicuspid aortic valve causes stenosis in the valve leaflets between the ages of 25-45, causing heart enlargement and heart failure. In both cases, the structure of the heart valve leaflets is deformed or...