Dear Colleagues,

Valvulopathy is among the most frequent cardiac pathologies in our environment and represents a major health problem due to the high annual morbidity and mortality rate involved, as well as the high economic cost of its treatment. The evolution in recent years in the knowledge of its pathophysiology, as well as its diagnosis and treatment has been exponential, to the point that the creation of specialised Valvulopathy Units in referral centers is currently recommended. Pathophysiologically, the concept of this disease and its study has evolved, and the latest clinical practice guidelines highlight the fact that haemodynamic alteration and the association with other cardiovascular and multi-valve diseases play a determining role in its assessment and in the decision-making on the treatment of choice. The techniques for valvular assessment and their treatment have multiplied, especially due to the development of new surgical and percutaneous treatments. Furthermore, the emergence of new cardiovascular drugs has opened up new treatment pathways for these diseases.

This Special Issue is a collection of review articles, original articles and meta-analyses aimed to address different current issues and future visions on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease.

Prof. Sergio Moral
Guest Editor