Mitral Valve Regurgitation

What Increases Your Risk

Risk factors for mitral valve regurgitation (MR) include:

• Age. Wear and tear of the mitral valve occurs over time, increasing the likelihood of blood leaking back into the atrium.
• Less commonly, diabetes and Marfan's syndrome. These conditions can lead to a calcification (hardening) of the mitral valve's base, which limits the valve's flexibility and slows its rhythmic movements. This impaired functioning increases the likelihood that some blood will leak backward through the valve, increasing your risk of developing MR.
• Having had rheumatic fever, because it can cause scarring on the valve, resulting in incomplete closure.
• Coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD may cause ischemia (reduced blood flow) or infarction (heart attack), which affects the valve's structure, leading to incomplete closure.

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Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW Cynthia Tank	Last Updated: April 3, 2006
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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