heart and blood vessel disorders
Mitral Regurgitation
Causes of Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral valve regurgitation may develop suddenly as a result of Infective Endocarditis , an infection of the valve, or because of injury to the valve or its supporting structures. The valve or its supporting structures can be damaged by a More often, however, mitral regurgitation develops slowly as a result of gradual deterioration of the valve (caused by Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) or rheumatic heart disease) or enlargement of the left ventricle, which pulls the valve apart and prevents it from closing properly. This enlargement is caused by a heart attack or another disorder that weakens the heart muscle (such as a Rheumatic Fever —a childhood illness that sometimes occurs after untreated 