Mitral Valve Regurgitation

UT Southwestern Medical Center’s heart specialists have the skill, experience, and advanced techniques and technologies needed to expertly diagnose and treat mitral valve regurgitation (mitral insufficiency) and improve quality of life.

Our Heart and Vascular Center is one of the nation’s leading programs, offering a variety of treatments for mitral valve regurgitation, including minimally invasive surgery and catheter-based treatments.

What Is Mitral Valve Regurgitation?

Mitral valve regurgitation, also known as mitral insufficiency, is a heart valve condition in which a problem with the mitral valve’s structure allows blood to flow from the left ventricle back into the left atrium when the valve should be closed. This backflow causes increased pressure or volume overload in the left atrium, eventually causing lung vessel congestion.

UT Southwestern’s heart surgeons are experts in minimally invasive approaches to valve surgery. We’ve performed more of these procedures than others in North Texas, and UT Southwestern is leading the advancement of additional treatments such as the mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge procedure using a MitraClip or PASCAL device.

UT Southwestern also offers a dedicated Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Cardiac rehabilitation is a critical component of recovery and can prevent future heart disease.

What Causes Mitral Valve Regurgitation?

Mitral valve regurgitation can be caused by conditions such as:

• Mitral valve prolapse or click-murmur syndrome: Backward bulging of the mitral leaflets into the left atrium
• Mitral valve flail: A more extreme form of mitral valve prolapse in which some of the cords that attach to the mitral valve leaflets become detached. This is also associated with more severe symptoms
• Barlow’s syndrome: A rare valve condition characterized by redundant mitral valve tissue which can cause dysfunction of the valve
• Coronary artery disease: Diseased or damaged blood vessels in the heart, causing decreased heart oxygenation and reduced valve blood flow
• Endocarditis: An infection of the valve that can perforate or otherwise damage it
• Rheumatic heart disease: Damaged heart valves and heart failure in patients with a history of rheumatic fever

What Are Symptoms of Mitral Valve Regurgitation?

Symptoms of mitral insufficiency typically include:

• Edema: Severe fluid retention in the legs or abdomen can indicate right-sided heart failure.
• Shortness of breath: Inability to breathe normally during exertion, while lying flat, or while sleeping can indicate left-heart failure.

How Is Mitral Valve Regurgitation Diagnosed?

UT Southwestern’s heart doctors use several tests to determine the problem. Common diagnostic tests include:

• Cardiac catheterization: To determine left ventricle function, degree of regurgitation, and lung vessel pressures
• Chest X-ray: To evaluate heart enlargement
• Echocardiography (echo or cardiac ultrasound): To visualize the mitral valve and determine the cause and severity of alteration
• Electrocardiogram (EKG): To evaluate heart rhythm and look for evidence of left-ventricle hypertrophy
• Physical exam: Includes listening with a stethoscope for a holosystolic blowing murmur

What Are Treatments for Mitral Valve Regurgitation?

Treatment options for people with mitral insufficiency include:

• Intra-aortic balloon pump: A device placed in the thoracic aorta to increase coronary artery blood flow and reduce the workload on the heart by decreasing the afterload in a patient who is unstable and in shock
• Medications: To relieve symptoms, diuretics to reduce congestion and volume overload; vasodilators to treat acute symptoms; antibiotics if the valve is infected; or anticoagulants to prevent clot formation if atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm) is present
• Mitral valve repair: To eliminate foreign valve placement and lessen the need for ongoing anticoagulation drugs
• Mitral valve replacement: If repair is not possible, the valve may be replaced with a tissue or mechanical valve

What Clinical Trials Are Available for Mitral Valve Regurgitation?

As one of the nation’s top academic medical centers, UT Southwestern offers a number of clinical trials aimed at improving the outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Clinical trials often give patients access to leading-edge treatments that are not yet widely available. Eligible patients who choose to participate in one of UT Southwestern’s clinical trials can receive treatments years before they are available to the public.