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How Can I Protect The Heart From Further Damage If The Valve Is Too Minor For Repair?
Posted on
Mon, 26 Oct 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 26 Oct 2020
Answered on
Mon, 26 May 2025
Last reviewed on
Question : I am 53 yr female and have mild mitral valve prolapse with mild regurgitation and low bld pressure. I have had regular echos every 2 yrs with no change until my recent one after a 4 yr gap in echos. It says prolapse is mild, regurgitation is mild but right atrium is moderately enlarged and ejection fraction is reduced from 58 to now 46. My question is if the valve and regurgitation remains mild only how can I have got such a change in the heart? Also I started nightly spa pooling about 4 yrs ago, could this have caused the issue? How can I protect the heart from further damage if the valve is too minor for repair?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
It is rather unlikely that a mild regurgitation lead to decreased left ventricular EF.
Furthermore, with the progression of the mitral regurgiation, left ventricle appears to function more dynamically and a normal cardiac function is maintained for a long time.
Coming to your case, I could conclude that first of all it is necessary to clarify the precision of the echo findings, whether it is only a mild mitral valve regurgitation or there is something more. Are there any other structural abnormalities (other valvular dysfunctions, cardiomyopathy, etc.)?
Sometimes an inflammatory disorder such as myocarditis may lead to decreased cardiac function indipendently of a valvular disorder.
In addition frequent cardiac arrhythmia can lead to decreased cardiac function. If no other abnormality (as mentioned above) is detected, then we have to refocus on the mitral valve functional status.
In this regard, it would be necessary to undergo trans-esophageal cardiac ultrasound in order to study more precisely the degree of mitral valve regurgiation.
Another option would be cardiac magnetic resonance, which could provide very precise evaluations of the real cardiac function and valvular dysfunctions.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this information helpful!
I remain at your disposal in case of any further questions!
Kind regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
It is rather unlikely that a mild regurgitation lead to decreased left ventricular EF.
Furthermore, with the progression of the mitral regurgiation, left ventricle appears to function more dynamically and a normal cardiac function is maintained for a long time.
Coming to your case, I could conclude that first of all it is necessary to clarify the precision of the echo findings, whether it is only a mild mitral valve regurgitation or there is something more. Are there any other structural abnormalities (other valvular dysfunctions, cardiomyopathy, etc.)?
Sometimes an inflammatory disorder such as myocarditis may lead to decreased cardiac function indipendently of a valvular disorder.
In addition frequent cardiac arrhythmia can lead to decreased cardiac function. If no other abnormality (as mentioned above) is detected, then we have to refocus on the mitral valve functional status.
In this regard, it would be necessary to undergo trans-esophageal cardiac ultrasound in order to study more precisely the degree of mitral valve regurgiation.
Another option would be cardiac magnetic resonance, which could provide very precise evaluations of the real cardiac function and valvular dysfunctions.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this information helpful!
I remain at your disposal in case of any further questions!
Kind regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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