Mitral regurgitation symptoms and signs

Question 1

What is mitral regurgitation

Answer 1

Mitral valve regurgitation is a type of heart valve disease in which the valve between the left heart chambers doesn’t close completely, allowing blood to leak backward across the valve. It is the most common type of heart valve disease (valvular heart disease). If the leakage is severe, not enough blood will move through the heart or to the rest of the body. As a result, mitral valve regurgitation can make you feel very tired (fatigued) or short of breath.

Question 2

Signs and Symptoms of mitral regurgitation

Answer 2

Mitral valve regurgitation is often mild and progresses slowly. Some people with mitral valve regurgitation might not have symptoms for many years.

But sometimes, mitral valve regurgitation develops quickly. This condition, called acute mitral valve regurgitation, causes sudden signs and symptoms.

Fatigue is a common but nonspecific symptom of mitral valve regurgitation. Other signs and symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation include:

Sound of blood flow across the valve (heart murmur)
The cardinal sign of mitral regurgitation is a holosystolic (pansystolic) murmur, heard best at the apex with the diaphragm of the stethoscope when the patient is in the left lateral decubitus position.

Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Shortness of breath (dyspnea), especially when lying down

Sensation of a rapid, pounding or fluttering heartbeat (palpitations)

Swollen feet or ankles (oedema)