Mitral Valve Stenosis
Quick Facts
- Mitral valve stenosis means the valve is narrowed, making it harder for blood to move through the heart.
- It can cause symptoms including shortness of breath and fatigue.
- Rheumatic fever is the most common cause worldwide, though it’s less common in the U.S.
What is mitral valve stenosis?
Mitral stenosis is a narrowing of the mitral valve opening. This makes it harder for blood to flow from the upper left chamber of the heart (left atrium) to the lower left chamber (left ventricle).
Watch a mitral valve stenosis animation.
Which symptoms can happen over time?
When the heart valve is narrowed, less blood can move through the heart. Pressure can also build up in the left atrium. Over time, this can make the chamber larger and cause fluid to build up in the lungs. This can make you feel tired or short of breath.
What causes mitral valve stenosis?
Mitral valve stenosis can be caused by several conditions. Some causes include:
- Rheumatic fever
- Congenital mitral valve stenosis
- Lupus
The most common cause of mitral valve stenosis worldwide is rheumatic fever, an illness that most often affects children after untreated strep throat or scarlet fever. It’s rare in high-income countries such as the United States, but it still occurs in some parts of the world.
Rheumatic fever can damage the heart valves, leading to rheumatic heart disease (RHD). When this affects the mitral valve, it’s called rheumatic mitral stenosis.
Mitral valve stenosis can also happen later in life due to calcium buildup on the valve. This is more common in older adults and is called calcific mitral stenosis.
Is mitral valve stenosis treatable?
Medications can’t fix a narrowed valve, but they can help relieve symptoms. Your healthcare team may prescribe medications to reduce fluid buildup, prevent blood clots or help control your heart rhythm.
The mitral valve can often be be repaired or replaced with surgery or a minimally invasive procedure. The best option depends on several factors, including:
- Cause of the mitral stenosis
- Condition of the valve
- Your symptoms
- Your heart function
- Your overall health
Mitral valve commissurotomy
For rheumatic mitral stenosis, a procedure called a commissurotomy may be used. This procedure separates valve leaflets that have become stuck together.
It can be done using a balloon (called percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy or PMBC) or with surgery. In both cases, opening the leaflets helps widen the valve and improve blood flow.
If the condition is more severe, surgery may be needed to repair or replace the mitral valve.
