Definition

The mitral valve sits in the left side of the heart. It helps to control the flow of blood from the top part of the heart to the bottom part. The valve makes sure the blood moves in one direction.

Mitral regurgitation is a leak in this valve. Blood leaks back into the upper chamber. Minor leaks may not be noticed. Severe leaks can cause serious symptoms and illness. The sooner it is treated, the better the outcome.

Mitral Valve Regurgitation

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Causes

Mitral regurgitation may be the result of a defective valve such as:

• Mitral valve prolapse—the valve cannot close properly
• Several different types of congenital heart defects, which can affect mitral valve function.

The valve can also be damaged by other conditions such as:

• Infections that scar the heart valve such as rheumatic fever or bacterial endocarditis
• Heart attack
• Cardiomyopathies—weakens the heart muscle and stretch the mitral valve

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your chance of developing mitral regurgitation include:

• A history of rheumatic fever or other serious infectious disease
• Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Storage diseases such as hemochromatosis and glycogen storage disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Muscle disease
• Malnutrition
• Alcohol use disorder
• Radiation exposure
• Exposure to certain drugs such as lithium, sulfonamides, chemotherapy, and phenothiazines

Symptoms

Symptoms may appear quickly or slowly over time. Mitral regurgitation can cause:

• Chronic, progressive fatigue
• Shortness of breath, especially with activity
• Shortness of breath gets worse when you lie down
• Feeling of fluttering in chest or racing heart rate

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. A leaking heart valves will make a sound called a murmur. The doctor may be able to hear it during an exam. You will likely be referred to a cardiologist.

Images of the heart will help to find which valve is damaged. Image options include:

• Echocardiogram
• Cardiac catheterization
• Cardiac MRI scan

Treatment

Treatment will be based on how severe the leak is. It will also depend on how it is affecting overall heart health. Severe regurgitation can cause congestion in the lungs. Overtime, it will also cause an enlargement of the heart muscle.

Treatment options include the following:

Prevention

To help reduce the chances mitral regurgitation:

• Follow heart healthy habits such as:
  • Control weight and blood pressure
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat heart-healthy foods
• Get prompt treatment for infections
• Avoid IV drug use
• Limit alcohol intake