Aortic regurgitation is incomplete closure of the aortic valve, allowing backflow of blood into the heart. It can occur rapidly or slowly over time. The decrease in blood volume pumped can cause a condition of aortic insufficiency characterized by weakness, fatigue, dyspnea, foot edema, chest pain, palpitations, murmur, syncope, and arrhythmias.

Aortic regurgitation may be asymptomatic in infants and children, even when moderate to severe, although disease is typically mild in the pediatric population. Signs and symptoms may begin to develop with increasing age.

A pulsatile brachial artery is suggestive of aortic insufficiency or arteriosclerosis. An unusual sign may be alternating redness and blanching associated with heartbeats (Quincke sign). 

Aortic regurgitation may be caused by natural valve deterioration due to aging, or related to another condition such as high blood pressure, aortic stenosis, Marfan syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, endocarditis, or rheumatic fever.