Tricuspid Valve Disease

Definition

Tricuspid valve disease is damage to a valve in the heart. This valve has three flaps that control the direction and flow of blood from the body to the lungs.

The two main types of this disease are:

Tricuspid stenosis—narrowing of the tricuspid valve
Tricuspid regurgitation—flaps do not close tightly and let blood flow backward

Anatomy of the Heart

Causes

The tricuspid valve may not develop the right way in some people. In other people, the disease may be caused by:

Endocarditis—an infection of the heart
Rheumatic fever
Heart attack or coronary heart disease
Congestive heart failure
Trauma to the heart
Tumors—rare

Risk Factors

Tricuspid valve disease is more common in people who have had rheumatic heart disease.

Symptoms

Some people may not have symptoms. Others may have:

Fatigue, especially during activity
Lack of hunger
Abdominal fullness
Swelling in the legs or belly
Problems breathing

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. The doctor may ask about any past rheumatic heart disease. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the heart.

Pictures may be taken of the heart to confirm the diagnosis. This can be done with an echocardiogram.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on how severe the damage is. Only severe symptoms may need to be treated. This can be done with:

Medicines, such as diuretics to control fluid buildup or vasodilators to help open blood vessels
Surgery to repair or replace the valve

Prevention

There are no current guidelines to prevent tricuspid valve disease. Strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever. Treating the infection early may lower the risk of problems.

References

Diseases of the tricuspid valve. Texas Heart Institute website. Available at: http://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/diseases-of-the-tricuspid-valve.
Tricuspid valve disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/condition/tricuspid-valve-disease.