Original descriptions of the classic signs of aortic valve insufficiency☆

Received 26 October 2001; received in revised form 15 April 2002; accepted 13 May 2002.

Abstract

The valves of the heart and their diseases have generated a great deal of interest since ancient times. The early observations regarding valvular deformities were confined to the morbid changes with no reference to the hemodynamic significance. The classic clinical signs of aortic valve insufficiency indicating hemodynamic disturbances were described later. The historical background and original descriptions of these classic signs of aortic valve insufficiency are presented.

Keywords: aortic valve, aortic regurgitation, history of medicine, physical examination, Flint, Austin, de Musset, Alfred, Corrigan, Dominic, Duroziez, Paul-Louis, Quinke, Heinrich, Hill, Leonard

* Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Reprint Address: Ijaz A. Khan, MD, Creighton University Cardiac Center, 3006 Webster Street, Omaha, NE 68131-2044, USA

☆ Medical Classics is coordinated by George Sternbach, MD, of Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California

PII: S0736-4679(02)00679-0

doi:10.1016/S0736-4679(02)00679-0

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