Ruptured sinus of a Valsalva aneurysm associated with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease in an elderly patient: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 71-year-old woman with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), who was referred to our hospital for investigation of facial edema. Echocardiography demonstrated a large aneurysm arising from the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva, with a left to right shunt and jets of blood passing from the aneurysm toward the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve. Surgical treatment was successfully carried out by resecting the aneurysmal wall and performing a patch closure of the orifice. It is well known that ADPKD predisposes patients to cardiovascular disease, and this case report serves to demonstrate that when a patient with ADPKD presents with progressive heart failure, the possibility of a ruptured sinus of a Valsalva aneurysm must be considered.