Mitral Valve Fibrosis: What It Is and How It Relates to Heart Valve Disease

The entry "valve fibrosis" in an echocardiography report may mean thickening and stiffness of the leaflets. Such a change may cause no symptoms for years but requires monitoring.

What mitral valve fibrosis is

The valve works like a one-way valve in a pipe: the leaflets open, let blood through, and close, preventing it from flowing back. With age, heart valves can become thick and stiff, and this is one of the causes of valvular pathology. The mitral valve is located on the left side of the heart and is among the most commonly affected, along with the aortic valve.

How valve fibrosis differs from stenosis and valve disease

Heart valve disease is a general concept: the valve either does not open fully or does not close fully. The first is called stenosis, the second is called insufficiency (regurgitation), and the two are often combined in the same valve. In stenosis, the leaflets become thick, stiff, or fused, and the valve does not open fully. In an ultrasound report, the term "fibrosis" is clarified by the doctor. Acquired heart valve disease is a disruption of heart function due to morphological and functional changes of the valves in the form of stenosis, insufficiency, or their combination.

Acquired heart valve disease: where it comes from

Causes of valvular changes include rheumatic fever after untreated streptococcal tonsillitis, infective endocarditis, a prior heart attack, cardiomyopathy, congenital features, and age-related changes with smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Mitral stenosis is a consequence of rheumatism in 30–50% of cases. Valve diseases are classified by the severity of their effect on intracardiac hemodynamics and by the state of general hemodynamics — compensated, subcompensated, decompensated.

What symptoms may appear

With minimal changes, there are usually no complaints. As the condition progresses, shortness of breath on exertion, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, palpitations and a sensation of a racing heart, swelling of the feet and lower legs, and pain or discomfort in the chest appear. Cough and hemoptysis are possible; in decompensation — cyanosis, edema, and an enlarged liver.

• Shortness of breath on usual exertion or at rest
• Palpitations and a rapid heartbeat
• Swelling of the feet and lower legs
• Pain or discomfort in the chest
• Dizziness, weakness, fatigue

How valve fibrosis is detected on a heart ultrasound

The doctor listens to the heart and may order a heart ultrasound (echocardiography), an ECG, a chest X-ray, and refer the patient to a cardiologist.

When a cardiologist consultation is needed

You should see a doctor if you have regular shortness of breath, weakness, and dizziness during ordinary activities, recurring palpitations, swelling of the feet, or intermittent chest pain. With mild valve disease without symptoms, treatment may not be required, but regular check-ups are scheduled.

On its own, it is not a reason to call an ambulance; 103 or 112 — if a person is gasping for breath, cannot speak, has sudden chest pain radiating to the arms, back, neck, or jaw, or the pain lasts more than 15 minutes, as well as chest pain with shortness of breath or palpitations.

This material is for reference: it explains the meaning of the entry in a report but does not replace a doctor's consultation, who will assess the specific picture.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer