The heart has four valves that open and close with each heartbeat, working together to ensure that blood travels in the right direction from one chamber to another. Heart valve disease happens when one or more heart valves don’t pump blood correctly. Mitral valve disease happens when the valve’s flaps don’t close tightly enough, causing blood to leak backward into the left atrium.
Also known as the mitral bicuspid valve, the mitral valve has two leaflets that provide a one-way route for blood traveling from the left atrium to the left ventricle. With each heartbeat, the mitral valve pushes blood in the proper direction while preventing it from flowing backward.
There are three main types of mitral valve disorders:
Also referred to as Barlow’s syndrome, mitral valve prolapse happens when the valve’s leaflets don’t close correctly. Mitral valve prolapse isn’t always symptomatic but may result in mitral valve regurgitation symptoms. Although experts haven’t identified a distinct mitral valve prolapse cause, the condition may be hereditary. People who were born with heart abnormalities — like mitral valve flaps that are too big, thick, or stretchy — may get a mitral valve prolapse diagnosis.
Mitral valve regurgitation is the most common type of heart valve disease. It happens when the mitral valve doesn’t fully close, allowing blood to leak backward. As a result of mitral valve leakage, the heart has to work harder to pump the blood forward. Mitral valve regurgitation symptoms can include shortness of breath and feeling tired. The condition is typically mild, slow to progress, and asymptomatic for many years. In some cases, it may appear without warning (acute mitral valve regurgitation) and show sudden signs and symptoms — such as swollen feet and ankles or a rapid heartbeat. It’s important to confirm the diagnosis of mitral regurgitation as early as possible to help prevent possible complications.
Mitral valve stenosis happens when the valve passage narrows due to inflammation, protein deposits, or an accumulation of calcium. As a result, the heart has to work harder to deliver blood between the two left chambers. Also referred to as mitral stenosis, mitral valve stenosis ranges from mild to severe, worsens over time, and may not show symptoms for many years. Symptoms of mitral valve stenosis may include fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. In some cases, there may be no mitral stenosis symptoms until the condition becomes severe. If left untreated, this life-threatening condition can lead to heart failure, an irregular heartbeat, and pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries to your lungs).
Although there are three main types of mitral valve conditions, mitral valve replacement or repair may be necessary for other conditions, including:
Endocarditis is a serious condition in which the heart’s inner lining (endocardium) becomes inflamed. Sometimes referred to as infective endocarditis or bacterial endocarditis, it’s typically the result of an infection. Congenital (present from birth) or developed heart defects, artificial heart valves, or damaged heart valves may also cause this life-threatening condition. Symptoms can range from night sweats and weight loss to chest pain while breathing and blood in the urine. Endocarditis is a common cause of mitral valve regurgitation and can permanently damage or destroy the heart’s valves if left untreated.
Heart failure is a chronic condition in which a weakened heart struggles to pump nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to the body’s organs and tissues. When this happens, the heart overcompensates by pumping faster, developing more muscle mass, enlarging, narrowing blood vessels, or diverting blood from less important organs and tissues. While heart failure typically affects the left side of the heart first, it can involve either the left side, right side, or both at the same time. Symptoms of this progressive condition can include wheezing, an irregular heartbeat, and chest pain — and may not be present until years after the heart begins its decline.
AHN’s team of specialists confirms a heart valve disease diagnosis by conducting an extensive physical exam and running several tests, which may include:
If you have a mitral valve disease diagnosis, are experiencing symptoms of a mitral valve disorder, or have a family history of the condition, the AHN Mitral Valve Program is here to help. We’re among the best in the country and first in Pennsylvania to be recognized by the American Heart Association® and Mitral Foundation as a Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center.* Our mitral valve program also holds the highest rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for mitral valve repair and replacement.**
We help treat even the most complicated heart valve diseases through medical advances like minimally invasive procedures at the AHN Cardiovascular Institute. We also offer a wide array of state-of-the-art treatment options, including:
To learn about the clinic, our team of doctors, and how to schedule an appointment, visit our AHN Mitral Valve Program.
Our team of highly specialized cardiologists, surgeons, nurses, echocardiographers, and clinical coordinators is dedicated to engaging patients through their entire care journey.
Call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 to request an appointment to see an AHN cardiologist.
The Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award Program was created by the Mitral Foundation and the American Heart Association® to identify and recognize the nation's best hospitals and surgeons for mitral valve repair surgery based on objective performance measures.
The Society for Thoracic Surgeons star rating system measures quality in health care, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs in the United States and Canada. In June 2022, AHN received three out of three stars for its Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement Program.
da Vinci® is a registered trademark of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and is used with permission.
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American Heart Association® is a trademark of American Heart Association, Inc., and used with permission.
