The primary causes of acute aortic regurgitation are Dissection of the ascending aorta Infective endocarditis The primary causes of chronic aortic regurgitation in adults are Degeneration of the aortic valve and root (with or without a bicuspid valve) Infective endocarditis Myxomatous degeneration Rheumatic fever Thoracic aortic aneurysm Trauma The most common cause of chronic aortic regurgitation in children is Ventricular septal defect with aortic valve prolapse Rarely, aortic regurgitation is caused by seronegative spondyloarthropathies (eg, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis), rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, arthritis associated with ulcerative colitis, luetic (syphilitic) aortitis, osteogenesis imperfecta, supravalvular or discrete membranous subaortic stenosis, Takayasu arteritis, rupture of a sinus of Valsalva, acromegaly, and giant cell arteritis.