Mitral regurgitation | |
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Other names | Mitral incompetence, mitral insufficiency |
Mitral regurgitation (schematic drawing) During systole, contraction of the left ventricle causes abnormal backflow (arrow) into the left atrium. 1 Mitral valve 2 Left ventricle 3 Left atrium 4 Aorta | |
Specialty | Cardiology |
Symptoms | Heart murmur, shortness of breath during exercise or lying down, fatigue, palpitations, swollen feet or ankles[1] |
Complications | In severe cases: congestive heart failure, arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation), pulmonary hypertension[1] |
Types | Acute mitral regurgitation, chronic compensated mitral regurgitation, chronic decompensated mitral regurgitation[2] |
Causes | mitral valve prolapse, ageing, rheumatic fever, mitral annular calcification, infective endocarditis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy[2] |
Treatment | Medication, Mitral valve repair, Mitral valve replacement, MitraClip |
Mitral regurgitation (MR), also known as mitral insufficiency or mitral incompetence, is a form of valvular heart disease in which the mitral valve is insufficient and does not close properly when the heart pumps out blood.[3][4][5] It is the abnormal leaking of blood backwards – regurgitation from the left ventricle, through the mitral valve, into the left atrium, when the left ventricle contracts.[4] Mitral regurgitation is the most common form of valvular heart disease.[3]