Mitral Valve Disease

Mitral valve disease refers to a group of conditions affecting the mitral valve in your heart. Mitral valve disease can be acquired (it develops over time as you get older) or congenital (you were born with it). It can be mild, moderate or severe. Treatment depends on how well your valve is working and the symptoms you’re having.

Your mitral valve lets blood flow from your left atrium to your left ventricle. These two chambers of your heart hold oxygen-rich blood from your lungs and pump that blood out to your body. When your mitral valve becomes diseased or damaged, it can’t work as well as it should. Mild damage may cause no symptoms and no major problems. But severe damage to your mitral valve can harm your heart over time and lead to serious problems like heart failure.

Heart valve disease refers to problems with any of your heart’s four valves. Some people with mitral valve disease also have problems with other valves in their hearts. It’s also possible to have valve disease along with other cardiovascular problems, like coronary artery disease.

Mitral valve disease can take different forms, and some people may have more than one form.

What are the different forms of mitral valve disease?

Mitral valve disease has three different forms. Each form affects your valve’s function in a slightly different way. To understand these differences, it’s important to know the basic structure of your mitral valve.

Your mitral valve is made of two strong flaps of tissue called leaflets or cusps. These flaps open and close in a coordinated rhythm to let blood flow out of your left atrium and into your left ventricle. They’re like traffic directors that let a few cars through at a time, then pause traffic, then let more cars through.

Mitral valve disease causes these flaps to be less efficient traffic directors. Instead of letting three cars go through, they may only let one or two. Or, they may let three cars through but then force one to go in reverse so it’s back where it started.

Your blood needs to flow through your heart efficiently. And it needs to keep moving forward in the right direction. Mitral valve disease can slow down your blood flow or cause it to leak in the wrong direction, depending on the form.

The three forms of mitral valve disease include:

• Mitral valve stenosis. Your valve’s flaps become thick and stiff. This narrows the valve opening and makes it harder for blood to get through.
• Mitral valve prolapse. Your valve’s flaps become too stretchy and bulge into your left atrium. This prevents your valve from closing as well as it should. It sometimes leads to regurgitation (leaky valve).
• Mitral valve regurgitation. This is commonly known as a leaky valve. It’s also sometimes called “mitral insufficiency.” Your valve’s flaps become pulled apart and can’t close all the way. So, some blood leaks backward into your left atrium.

Who does mitral valve disease affect?

Mitral valve disease affects people of all ages. Some babies are born with mitral valve problems. Some adults are affected suddenly due to an infection in their heart or a heart attack. Usually, though, adults develop mitral valve disease over time as the valve slowly deteriorates.