II. Precautions
- Evaluation and management here focuses on chronic Mitral Regurgitation
- Acute Mitral Regurgitation with papillary Muscle rupture is also described, but requires emergent management
III. Pathophysiology
- Dysfunction of any of the mitral valve structure may result in Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral valve leaflets
- Chordae Tendinae
- Papillary Muscles
- Mitral annulus
- Chronic Early or compensated Mitral Regurgitation
- Volume overload
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Left atrial enlargement
- Chronic Late or decompensated Mitral Regurgitation
- Left Ventricular Failure
- Decreased ejection fraction
- Pulmonary congestion
- Acute Mitral Regurgitation due to papillary Muscle rupture
- Typically affects posteromedial papillary Muscle (most tenuous blood supply)
IV. Causes: Acute Mitral Regurgitation (due to papillary Muscle rupture)
- Common causes of papillary Muscle rupture
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Associated with 50% acute mortality rate
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Rare causes of papillary Muscle rupture
V. Causes: Chronic Mitral Regurgitation
-
Rheumatic Heart Disease (50%)
- May be associated with Mitral Stenosis
-
Mitral Valve Prolapse
- May be associated with Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- May be associated with Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Ischemic Heart Disease and papillary Muscle dysfunction
- Left Ventricular dilatation
- Mitral annular calcification
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Infective Endocarditis
- Congenital Mitral Regurgitation
VII. Signs: General
- Holosystolic Murmur at Apex
- Harsh, medium pitched pansystolic murmur (without respiratory variation)
- Murmur obliterates M1
- Radiation
- Axilla
- Upper sternal borders
- Subscapular region
- Modifiers
- Murmur intensity decreases with squatting
- Murmur intensity increases with standing
- Other heart sounds
- Soft or diminished First Heart Sound (S1)
- P2 heart sound augmented
- S2 Heart Sound with wide split
- S3 Gallop rhythm (indicative of severe disease)
- Other findings
- Accentuated, hyperdynamic and displaced precordial Apical Thrust
- Systolic thrill
- Sharp carotid upstroke (contrast with the delayed and decreased pulsation of Aortic Stenosis)
VIII. Signs: Acute Mitral Regurgitation (in contrast to chronic MR)
- Pulsus Alternans (high volume in chronic MR)
- Jugular Venous Pressure markedly elevated (mild in chronic MR)
- Pulmonary Hypertension severe
- S3 gallup and S4 gallup present (S4 is always absent in chronic MR)
- Late Systolic Murmur (holosystolic in chronic MR)
IX. Signs: Rheumatic Heart Disease related Mitral Regurgitation (in contrast to MR with prolapse)
- Posterior valve leaflets affected
- Soft S1 (contrast with loud with midsystolic click in Mitral prolapse/regurgitation)
- Holosystolic murmur increases with with squatting and isometric handgrip
- Contrast with midsystolic murmur decreased with squatting/handgrip in prolapse/MR
X. Diagnostics: Electrocardiogram
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Left Axis Deviation
- Atrial Fibrillation may be present in chronic Mitral Regurgitation
XI. Imaging
-
Chest XRay
- Enlarged left atrium
- Dilated left ventricle
-
Echocardiogram
- Most important study in the evaluation of Mitral Regurgitation
- Test Sensitivity: 65-85%
- Associated Findings
- Enlarged left atrium
- Hyperdynamic left ventricle
- Doppler assesses severity
XII. Monitoring
- Annual or semi-annual Echocardiogram
- Assess ejection fraction
- Assess end-systolic dimension
XIII. Management
- SBE Prophylaxis is no longer recommended
- Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation
- Treat Congestive Heart Failure
- Diuretics
- Digoxin
- Afterload reduction
- ACE Inhibitor
- Hydralazine
- Nitroprusside IV
- Milrinone (also inotropic)
- Surgery: Mitral Valve repair or replacement
- Repair before Heart Failure develops
- Keep ejection fraction >60%
- Keep end-systolic dimension <45 mm
- Indications
- Cardiopulmonary Symptoms
- Left Ventricular function impaired
- Repair before Heart Failure develops
XIV. Complications
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Atrial Fibrillation (chronic Mitral Regurgitation)
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM)
- May complicate Mitral valve regurgitation or Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral valve lodges in the left ventricular outflow tract resulting in mechanical obstruction
- Risk for Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction (LVOTO)
XV. References
- Baloor (2018) Exam Preparatory Manual for Undergraduates Medicine, Jaypee Brothers, India
- Kondos (1998) CMEA Medicine Review Lecture, San Diego
- Assi (1998) Postgrad Med 104(6):99-110 [PubMed]
- Bonow (1998) Circulation 98:1949-84 [PubMed]
- Carabello (1997) N Engl J Med 337(1):32-41 [PubMed]
- Shipton (2001) Am Fam Physician 63(11):2201-8 [PubMed]