Mitral regurgitation of 1 degree, mitral valve prolapse

Regurgitation of the mitral valve can be understood by everyone.

Mitral regurgitation of 1 degree. For people far from medicine, this statement sounds like a gibberish. But in fact, the basic essence of this process can be understood by an ordinary person.

Mitral regurgitation and prolapse of the valve

The mitral valve is the valves that separate the left ventricle from the atrium of the "main blood pump" of the body. Regurgitation is the reverse flow, moving in the opposite direction to the main one. So, what does regurgitation of the mitral valve mean (its insufficiency)? This is the emergence of a reverse flow of blood through the heart valve.

Any pathology has its own reasons. In this case, the possibility of changing the direction of the flow of blood gives rise to a gap in the transition from the left atrium to the ventricle. This means that the mitral valve does not fit snugly due to the sagging (protrusion) of the valve. The defeat is called prolapse. This change in the heart can be congenital or acquired.

Many may find it strange that with such a variety of valves (aortic, tricuspid, pulmonary artery valve), attention is paid precisely to the mitral. In this there is nothing surprising. This heart valve is subject to the greatest load. So, the development of prolapse will be more likely.

Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment Methods

Only a small number of patients with protrusion of the valves feel pain in the region of the heart, interruptions or increased heart rate, and some other more active symptoms (eg, shortness of breath, migraine). Most people do not notice this pathology. Therefore, it is found by chance during the ultrasound of the heart.

Depending on the size of the gap, the degree of prolapse is determined (three variants). Although it does not matter much. The degree of regurgitation accompanying the pathological change in the valve is of concern.

Its level is determined by conducting a number of additional studies of the heart. The most effective method in these cases is Doppler-Echocardiography, which directly determines the return flow of blood. Mitral regurgitation of 1 degree, 2 degrees or its absence is subject only to observation or conservative methods of correction if necessary (for example, in case of reinforcement of the backflow of blood). And also the limitation of physical and psychological loads.

If a significant pathological change in heart function is detected , rather than regurgitation of the first degree of the mitral valve, more drastic measures are taken (up to surgical intervention). Of course, all actions are not aimed at reducing the volume of the return flow of blood through the valves, but in combating mitral valve prolapse and the factors that caused this morphological change in the leaflets or a decrease in their functionality.

Causes of prolapse of the valve

The reasons for this pathology of the heart:

- Leading to primary prolapse. Hereditary anomaly of the structure of the valve or congenital morphological changes in its tissues.

- Leading to secondary (acquired) prolapse. Circumstances leading to inflammation, rupture, or morphological alteration of the tendon chords that hold the valve flaps. As well as detachment of the valves themselves, damage to papillary muscles (in this case, more than 80% of deaths) and other pathological changes in the heart. For example, chest injuries, myocardial infarction, rheumatism, infective endocarditis and other diseases.

Accordingly, it is possible to consider the factors of prolapse arising above as the circumstances in which mitral regurgitation of 1 degree and other types is most likely to appear.

Due to the fact that the prolapse of the valve, and therefore mitral regurgitation of 1 degree, can progress, modern medicine changes the cardinal relationship to these pathologies of the heart. If earlier some anomalies or minimal heart changes were not given special attention, now the situation has changed. A great influence on this is having new discoveries in the field of cardiology and an increase in the number of cardiovascular diseases.