Congenital Mitral Valve Anomalies

Congenital mitral valve anomalies are types of heart valve disease that are present at birth. That means they are congenital heart defects. The conditions affect the valve between the heart’s upper and lower left chambers. That valve is called the mitral valve.

Mitral valve anomalies include:

• Thick or stiff valve flaps, also called leaflets.
• Leaflets or leaflets that are joined, also called fused.
• Leaflets that are too long.
• Leaflets with spaces between them.
• Changes in the cords that support the valve. This might include missing cords, short and thick cords, or cords that are too long.
• More than one opening in the area of the mitral valve. This is called a double-orifice valve.

Types of heart valve disease caused by mitral valve anomalies include:

• Narrowing of the mitral valve, also called mitral valve stenosis. The valve flaps are stiff. The valve opening may be narrowed. Mitral valve stenosis reduces blood flow between the left heart chambers.
• Leaky mitral valve, also called mitral valve regurgitation. The valve flaps don’t close tightly. Sometimes they push backward into the left upper heart chamber as the heart squeezes. As a result, the mitral valve leaks blood.

Some people have both mitral valve stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation.