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James S. Gammie, M.D.

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Mitral regurgitation - chronic

Alternative Names:

Chronic mitral valve regurgitation; Mitral valve insufficiency

Symptoms:

Note: Often no symptoms are present. When symptoms occur, they often develop gradually.

Signs and tests:

Palpation may show thrill (vibration) over the heart. A stethoscope examination of the heart reveals a distinctive murmur. Rales (a crackly sound) or other abnormal breath sounds may be heard on lung examination. Ankle swelling, enlarged liver , distended neck veins, and other signs consistent with right-sided heart failure may be present.

An enlarged left atrium with a thickened or deformed mitral valve, and regurgitation of blood may be seen on:

A chest x-ray may show an enlarged left atrium. An ECG often suggests left atrial enlargement. Enlargement of the left ventricle is also a frequent finding. Other tests may include radionuclide scans or a CT scan of the chest .
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