Mitral Valve RegurgitationSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Mitral regurgitation is a disorder in which the mitral valve on the left side of the heart does not close properly.
Regurgitation means leaking from a valve that does not close all the way.
Mitral valve regurgitation; Mitral valve insufficiency; Heart mitral regurgitation; Valvular mitral regurgitation
Blood that flows between different chambers of your heart must flow through a valve. The valve between the 2 chambers on the left side of your heart is called the mitral valve. It opens enough so that blood can flow from the upper chamber of your heart (left atrium) to the lower chamber (left ventricle). It then closes, keeping blood from flowing backwards.
When the mitral valve doesn't close all the way, blood flows backward into the left atrium from the left ventricle as it contracts. This is called mitral regurgitation and is a common type of heart valve disorder. This cuts down on the amount of blood that flows to the rest of the body. As a result, the heart may need to pump harder. This may lead to congestive heart failure.
Mitral regurgitation may begin suddenly. This often occurs after a heart attack. When the regurgitation does not go away, it becomes long-term (chronic).
Many other diseases or problems can weaken or damage the valve or the heart tissue around the valve. You are at risk for mitral valve regurgitation if you have:
- Coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.
- Enlargement of the left lower heart chamber (left ventricle).
- Infection of the heart valves.
- Mitral valve prolapse (MVP).
- Rare conditions, such as untreated syphilis or Marfan syndrome.
- Rheumatic heart disease. This is a complication of untreated strep throat that is becoming less common.
Another important risk factor for mitral regurgitation is past use of a diet pill called "Fen-Phen" (fenfluramine and phentermine) or dexfenfluramine. The medicine was removed from the market by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997 because of safety concerns.
Symptoms may begin suddenly if:
- A heart attack damages the muscles around the mitral valve.
- The cords that attach the muscle to the valve break.
- An infection of the valve destroys part of the valve.
There are often no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they often develop gradually, and may include:
- Cough
- Fatigue, exhaustion, and lightheadedness
- Rapid breathing
- Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations) or a rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath that increases with activity or when lying down
- Waking up an hour or so after falling asleep because of trouble breathing
- Urination, excessive at night
Treatment will depend on what symptoms you have, what condition caused the mitral valve regurgitation, how well the heart is working, and if the heart has become enlarged.
People with high blood pressure or a weakened heart muscle may be given medicines to reduce the strain on the heart and ease symptoms.
The following medicines may be prescribed when mitral regurgitation symptoms get worse:
- Beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or calcium channel blockers
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants) to help prevent blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation
- Medicines that help control uneven or abnormal heartbeats
- Water pills (diuretics) to remove excess fluid in the lungs
A low-sodium diet may be helpful. You may need to limit your activity if symptoms develop.
Once the diagnosis is made, you should visit your provider regularly to track your symptoms and heart function.
You may need surgery to repair or replace the valve if:
- Heart function is poor
- The heart becomes enlarged (dilated)
- Symptoms get worse
Catheter based non-surgical techniques to place clips or replace the mitral valve are increasingly in use for some selected patients with mitral regurgitation.
Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute Kenilworth
Michael Rinaldi is an Interventional Cardiologist and a Cardiologist practicing medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Rinaldi is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Mitral Valve Regurgitation. He is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Heart Attack, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Dr. Rinaldi is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine, American Board Of Internal Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, and American Board Of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Rinaldi is currently accepting new patients.
CUIMC/Milstein Hospital Building
Isaac George is a Cardiologist and a Thoracic Surgeon practicing medicine in New York, New York. Dr. George is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Mitral Valve Regurgitation. He is also highly rated in 22 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Aortic Valve Stenosis, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Tricuspid Regurgitation, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Dr. George is board certified in Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgery. Dr. George is currently accepting new patients.
Northwell Health Physician Partners Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery At Lenox Hill, 4th Floor
Chad Kliger is an Interventional Cardiologist practicing medicine in New York, New York. Dr. Kliger is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Mitral Valve Regurgitation. He is also highly rated in 17 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), and Aortic Valve Replacement. Dr. Kliger is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine/Interventional Cardiology and American Board Of Internal Medicine/Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Kliger is currently accepting new patients.
The outcome varies. Most of the time the condition is mild, so no therapy or restriction is needed. Symptoms can most often be controlled with medicine.
Problems that may develop include:
- Abnormal heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation and possibly more serious, or even life-threatening abnormal rhythms
- Clots that may travel to other areas of the body, such as the lungs or brain
- Infection of the heart valve
- Heart failure
Contact your provider if symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment.
Also contact your provider if you are being treated for this condition and develop signs of infection, which include:
- Chills
- Fever
- General ill feeling (malaise)
- Headache
- Muscle aches
People with abnormal or damaged heart valves are at risk for an infection called endocarditis. Anything that causes bacteria to get into your bloodstream can lead to this infection. Steps to avoid this problem include:
- Avoid unclean injections.
- Treat strep infections quickly to prevent rheumatic fever.
- Always tell your provider and dentist if you have a history of heart valve disease or congenital heart disease before treatment. Some people may need antibiotics before dental procedures or surgery.
Summary: An early feasibility study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the MRace Implant and Delivery System to treat severe mitral regurgitation and to gather preliminary data on its performance thereby providing guidance for future clinical development. The study is a single-arm registry with the last follow-up visit at 5 years post-intervention. The study will enroll up to 10 patients at one (1) ...
Summary: An early feasibility study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the MRace Implant and Delivery System to treat severe mitral regurgitation and to gather preliminary data on its performance thereby providing guidance for future clinical development. The study is a single-arm registry with the last follow-up visit at 5 years post-intervention. The study will enroll up to 100 patients at four (4...
Published Date: January 27, 2026
Published By: Thomas S. Metkus MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Herrmann HC, Reardon MJ. Transcatheter therapies for mitral and tricuspid valvular heart disease. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, et al, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 74.
Moon MR, Kachroo P, Rosengart TK. Acquired heart disease: valvular. In: Tyler DS, Hayes-Dixon A, Hines OJ, et al, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 112.
Writing Committee Members; Otto CM, Nishimura RA, Bonow RO, et al. 2020 ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with valvular heart disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2021;162(2):e183-e353. PMID: 33972115 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33972115/.