Valvulopathies in Young Athletes

This chapter largely presents the principle valvular heart diseases detected in young athletes. A lot of data regarding these anomalies are presented, from acquired mitral stenosis and insufficiency to aortic stenosis and insufficiency, up to inflow and outflow obstruction anomalies, aortic coarctaction, mitral valve prolapse, pulmonary valve and its branch stenosis. Every group of valvular disease is clearly described from clinical, diagnostic and hemodynamic point of view. On the other hand, a careful classification of every sport practice is showed, i.e. agonistic and non agonistic competition, underlining the difference between single soubgroups, such as group A, group B1 and B2 activities. For practical purposes, criteria for allowing fitness to competition sport are showed for any kind of valvular heart diseases. Moreover, the post-intervention issues of subjects carrying biological and mechanical prostheses, homograft, and congenital anomalies are approached, with particular attention to the necessity of periodical and close check-up for this cohort of patients.