Restenosis of the mitral valve
When a mitral valve narrows again after it has been repaired or stretched open, it is called restenosis. Restenosis often develops 1 to 2 years after treatment and is more likely to occur in people whose mitral valve was difficult to treat initially because the valve was stiff and heavily calcified.
Recurring symptoms can also be caused by other valve, heart, or lung problems, especially when they develop long after the original treatment for mitral valve stenosis. In addition, similar symptoms can be produced by diseases not directly related to the heart.
Symptoms of mitral valve restenosis are the same as those caused by mitral valve stenosis. They include:
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
- Fatigue, weakness, and lightheadedness.
- Fluid buildup throughout the body, especially in the legs, ankles, and feet (edema).
- An irregular heart rhythm (most often due to atrial fibrillation).
Other less common symptoms include:
- Hoarseness and vocal cord paralysis (Ortner's syndrome).
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
- Coughing up blood (hemoptysis).
- Chest pain.
- Skin color changes, such as pink to purple shades of the cheeks (mitral facies) or dark bluish hues in various areas of the body due to reduced blood flow (cyanosis). Skin color changes rarely occur and usually only at the end stages of the disease.
If symptoms of mitral valve stenosis persist or recur after you have been treated, see your doctor. You will be asked about your symptoms and will probably have many of the same tests you had when your condition was first diagnosed. You may also need additional tests to see whether the symptoms are caused by some heart or lung condition other than restenosis of the mitral valve.
If restenosis is diagnosed, treatment will depend on the condition of the valve. A repeat balloon valvotomy or valve surgery may be advised.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: March 18, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
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