Interv Akut Kardiol. 2023;22(1):8-11 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2023.001

Pathophysiology of mitral regurgitation

Petr Lokaj

Interní kardiologická klinika Fakultní nemocnice Brno

Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity Brno

Mitral regurgitation is among the most common acquired valvular diseases in adulthood in developed countries. In terms of etiology, mitral regurgitation can be divided into a primary cause and a secondary cause. Pathophysiologically, it is an imbalance between tethering and closing forces. Regurgitant flow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium results in cyclic volume overload of the left ventricle. The significance of mitral regurgitation is dependent on preload, afterload, and cardiac output. First, there is an eccentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle, an increase in end-diastolic volume and, subsequently, also in end-systolic volume, while LVEF decreases. The most common secondary cause is ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Keywords: mitral regurgitation, left ventricular volume overload, LVEF.

Accepted: March 27, 2023; Published: April 12, 2023  Show citation