Overview

What Is Mitral Valve Disease?

Mitral valve disease is the most common form of heart valve disease in the United States, resulting in more than 500,000 hospital admissions per year. There are two general forms of mitral valve disease, mitral regurgitation/insufficiency (including mitral valve prolapse) and mitral stenosis. These conditions disrupt the flow of oxygen-rich blood from the lungs as it passes from the left atrium to the left ventricle of the heart.

Mitral valve insufficiency/regurgitation

In patients with mitral valve insufficiency/regurgitation, the valve leaflets (flap-like structure that control the one way flow of blood in the heart) do not close completely. This causes the blood to flow backwards from the left ventricle to the left atrium. The abnormal blood flow increases stress on the heart. The typical symptoms of mitral regurgitation/insufficiency are exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations and, on occasion, chest pain.

Mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse is the most common heart valve condition, affecting five percent of the United States population. With mitral valve prolapse, the mitral valve bulges slightly back into the left atrium when it closes, allowing a small amount of blood to leak backward. Patients with mitral valve prolapse may notice minor chest pain or palpitations.

Mitral valve stenosis

Mitral stenosis is a disabling and eventually lethal mechanical disorder of the mitral valve caused by an inability of the valve leaflets to open fully. Over time, the heart weakens as it struggles to get blood through a small, tight valve opening.

The majority of cases of mitral stenosis are related to the buildup of scar tissue on the valves due to rheumatic heart disease. Symptoms usually appear 16 to 40 years after the episode of acute rheumatic fever.