Mitral Regurgitation

MITRAL REGURGITATION OVERVIEW

Mitral regurgitation (MR), which is also known as mitral insufficiency, is a common heart valve disorder. 

With mitral regurgitation (MR), blood leaks backwards through the mitral valve and into the left atrium when the heart contracts. This means that less blood is pumped out of the heart to the body. If the amount of MR is small and does not progress, the backward leak has no significant consequences.

If significant (moderate to severe) MR is present, the left ventricle must work harder to keep up with the body's demands for oxygenated blood. Over time, the heart muscle (the myocardium) and circulatory system undergo a series of changes to maintain this increased demand. These changes generally occur in phases over many years, even decades, depending upon the amount of blood that is leaking backward and how the heart responds to MR. The cause of MR also influences how soon the heart begins to fail.

Information from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/mitral-regurgitation-beyond-the-basics

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SYMPTOMS

Mitral valve regurgitation does not always have symptoms.

Sometimes it can cause:

• dizziness

• breathlessness

• tiredness

• chest pain

If not treated, it can lead to:

• atrial fibrillation – an irregular and fast heartbeat

• pulmonary hypertension – high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs

• heart failure – where the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body

Information from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mitral-valve-problems/

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CAUSES

Mitral regurgitation happens if the mitral valve cannot close properly.

This is usually caused by either:

• the mitral valve becoming too floppy (mitral valve prolapse)

• the ring of muscle around the valve becoming too wide

These problems often develop with age – for example, because of "wear and tear" over time or damage caused by untreated high blood pressure.

Mitral regurgitation can sometimes be caused by a problem such as:

• cardiomyopathy – where the walls of the heart become stretched, thickened or stiff

• endocarditis – infection of the inner lining of the heart

• congenital heart disease – birth defects affecting the heart

Information from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mitral-valve-problems/

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TREATMENT

You might not need treatment if you do not have any symptoms. Your doctor may just suggest having regular check-ups to monitor your condition.

If you have symptoms or the problem with your valve is serious, your doctor may recommend:

• medicines to relieve your symptoms – such as diuretics to reduce breathlessness and medicines for atrial fibrillation

• open heart surgery – to repair or replace the mitral valve

• keyhole surgery – a small clip is attached to the mitral valve to help it close; the clip is guided into the heart through a thin tube inserted into a vein in the groin. 

Information from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mitral-valve-problems/

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