Valvular heart disease affects the four valves of the heart and can be congenital or acquired. Stenosis and regurgitation are the two types, with symptoms ranging from an irregular heartbeat to heart failure. Treatment depends on the severity and type of the disease, with surgery being an option for severe cases.
Valvular heart disease is an umbrella term for any disease that affects the valves of the heart. Valvular heart disease can be congenital or acquired and can affect one or more of the four valves of the heart. Diagnosis and treatment depend on the particular type of valvular heart disease.
There are four valves in the human heart. The mitral valve leads from the left atrium, the left upper chamber of the heart, to the left ventricle, the left lower chamber. The aortic valve leads from the left ventricle to the aorta. The tricuspid valve leads from the right atrium to the right ventricle and the pulmonary valve leads from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. The valves of the heart are essential for maintaining a one-way flow of blood through the heart, and their opening and closing can be heard as the heartbeat.
There are essentially two types of valvular heart disease, stenosis and regurgitation, which can affect one or more of the four valves. Stenosis is characterized by incomplete opening of the valve, while insufficiency is characterized by incomplete closure. Stenosis prevents blood flow through the heart, while valve regurgitation causes blood to leak through the valve, cutting off the unidirectional flow of blood. Valvular heart disease is classified according to the type of valvular disease and the valve affected, such as aortic valve stenosis or mitral regurgitation. These subtypes of the disease are often abbreviated using the initial of the affected valve and S for stenosis or I for regurgitation, so pulmonic valve stenosis would be abbreviated as PS.
Valvular heart disease can be caused by congenital malformation of the valves or heart valve dysplasia; or it can be caused by inflammation of the valves, which can be caused by bacterial infections, cancer, or immune disorders. Some medications, including cabergoline, pergolide, and the diet drug Fen-Phen, can also cause heart valves to malfunction. Symptoms vary according to the type and severity of valvular heart disease and can range from a slightly irregular heartbeat that does not require treatment to heart failure.
Likewise, treatment, when needed, is determined by the type and severity of the disease. If it is caused by inflammation, treating the underlying condition can stop the valve from malfunctioning. Sometimes, drugs such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can help regulate blood flow in the heart. If valvular heart disease is severe, however, surgical replacement of the affected valve may be the best treatment.
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