Mitral valve regurgitation can be definitively diagnosed with a noninvasive imaging study called anechocardiogramand other diagnostic tests and procedures.
Milder cases may be treated with medications and lifestyle changes, while advanced cases may require surgery.
It lies between the two chambers of the heart called the left atrium and the left ventricle.
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Types of Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral regurgitation can either be acute or chronic.
Acute MRis when an injury to the mitral valve causes it to suddenly become leaky.
Acute MR is considered a medical emergency, typically requiring surgery to repair the damaged valve.
Chronic MRis when the loss of the mitral valve function is gradual and progressive.
It can develop silently for many months or years, or develop overtly following a severe acute MR episode.
How Common Is Mitral Regurgitation?
The causes vary by whether the condition is primary or secondary.
At other times, the ventricle or atrium might experiencehypertrophy,in which tissues become stiff and thicker.
In some cases, it can lead to the same conditions that instigate MR.
The risk increases with the stage of the disease.
When MR is compensated, it is not uncommon for there to be no symptoms at all.
Symptoms of mitral regurgitation include:
How Is Mitral Valve Regurgitation Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of MR can be challenging because healthcare providers need to actively look for it.
The murmur is triggered by the sound of blood gushing backward through the mitral valve.
Even so, the murmur can be missed if the disease is mild.
The treatment of mitral regurgitation depends largely on whether or not it is causing symptoms.
Even so, some healthcare providers will prescribe drugs that are thought by some to slow disease progression.
These include:
Do Medications Help?
Whats the Outlook for Someone With Mitral Valve Regurgitation?
Mitral valve regurgitation is associated with an increased risk of illness and death, particularly if left untreated.
The six-year survival rate is far less favorable, falling to 65%.
However, if treated, theprognosisfor primary MR is greatly improved.
Some people may never develop symptoms or severe disease.
Many people with early-stage MR have no symptoms.
Asymptomatic MR is usually not treated but is instead regularly monitored with TTE screening.
Surgery is recommended for people with symptomatic MR, which can dramatically increase survival times and life expectancy.
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