Tricuspid Regurgitation
Alternate Names : Tricuspid Insufficiency, Tricuspid Incompetence
Tricuspid regurgitation occurs when the tricuspid valve within the
heart fails to close tightly. This causes blood to flow backward.
What is going on in the body?
There are four chambers in the
heart, two on the left side and two on the right. The tricuspid valve separates the upper and lower chambers on the right side of the heart. Failure of this
valve to close properly may lead to circulation problems and damage to the
heart over time.
What are the causes and risks of the disease?
This condition
has many causes, including:
congenital heart disease, in
which
the infant is born with an defective tricuspid valve
congestive heart failure
a heart attack
pulmonary hypertension, or high
blood pressure in the arteries that carry blood through the lungs
rheumatic fever, a condition
that
may occur as a complication of strep throat
infection of the heart valves, called endocarditis. A person who uses intravenous drugs, such as heroin, is at a high risk for this cause of tricuspid valve damage.
old age. Tricuspid regurgitation due to aging is often minimal and usually causes no harm.
trauma to the heart, such as from a stab wound to the chest
a tumor called a carcinoid tumor
Other causes are also possible.
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