The mitral valve is located on the left side of your heart, between two chambers: the atrium (upper) and the ventricle (lower). Blood is pumped from the left atrium, through the mitral valve, and into the left ventricle on its way to the aorta. The healthy mitral valve allows blood to pass through, but prevents it from flowing back.
Mitral valve stenosis, also known as mitral stenosis, is when the mitral valve opening is narrowed. This means that not enough blood can flow through it. This can lead to a variety of issues, including fatigue, difficulty breathing, blood clots, and heart failure.
The body’s organs most affected by the acute rheumatic fever are the joints and the heart. The joints can become very inflamed and can lead to temporary and sometimes chronic disability. The lining of the heart (endocarditis), the heart muscle (myocarditis), and the membrane surrounding the heart (pericarditis) can become inflamed.
When the mitral valve (or any of the heart valves) becomes involved, this leads to a chronic heart condition called rheumatic heart disease. The clinical signs and symptoms of this condition might not occur until 5 to 10 years after the episode of rheumatic fever.
The factors that make some people more susceptible than others to mitral valve stenosis are unclear, but it is estimated that women are more at risk than men.
A congenital heart defect may cause mitral valve stenosis in a baby. Babies born with this condition usually need surgery.
In rare cases, calcium may build up and lead to narrowing of the mitral valve. Other, more rare causes for mitral valve stenosis include:
- tumors
- blood clots
- radiation treatments
- calcium buildup on valves
- congenital heart defects
What Are the Symptoms of Mitral Valve Stenosis?
Other common symptoms include:
- cough, with or without blood
- chest pain, or chest discomfort
- fatigue
- swelling in ankles and/or feet
- respiratory infections
- plum-colored cheeks
If mitral valve stenosis is severe, you may feel your heart fluttering or beating rapidly.
Rarely, you may feel discomfort in your chest. Your chest might feel tight or constricted, or you may feel pain that radiates outward from your chest.
In some cases, mitral valve stenosis may not cause any symptoms, or the symptoms may appear only during exercise. You might develop symptoms when your body undergoes stress such as during an infection or pregnancy.
In addition to the common symptoms, children with this issue might experience slower growth.
How Is Mitral Valve Stenosis Treated?
Drugs and Medication
If your mitral valve stenosis is causing symptoms, your doctor might prescribe medications. Although these do not actually fix the problem with your mitral valve, they can help treat your symptoms. Types of medications your doctor might prescribe include:
- anticoagulants (blood thinners)
- diuretics (to reduce fluid buildup through increased urine output)
- antiarrhythmics (medications to treat abnormal heart rhythms)
- beta-blockers (medications to slow your heart rate)
Valvuloplasty
Your doctor may choose to perform a mitral balloon valvuloplasty. If you need more treatment than just medication, but your mitral valve is not damaged enough to require heart surgery, this procedure is an option. This involves threading a tube (catheter) with a balloon attached to it through a vein and into your heart. Once in the mitral valve, the doctor inflates the balloon to expand the valve. In some cases, you may need to undergo this procedure more than once.
Surgery
Surgery may become necessary. Your doctor might be able to surgically repair your existing mitral valve to make it function properly. If that isn’t possible, you may need to have your mitral valve replaced with a new one. The replacement might be biological or mechanical.
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