What are the causes and symptoms of mitral valve insufficiency?
In the past, rheumatic fever was the most common cause of mitral valve insufficiency. However, the increased use of antibiotics for strep throat has made rheumatic fever rare in developed countries. In these countries, mitral valve insufficiency caused by rheumatic fever is seen mostly in the elderly. In countries with less developed health care, rheumatic fever is still common and is often a cause of mitral valve insufficiency. Heart attacks that damage the structures that support the mitral valve are a common cause of mitral valve insufficiency. Myxomatous degeneration can cause a “floppy” mitral valve that leaks. In other cases, the valve simply deteriorates with age and becomes less efficient. People with mitral valve insufficiency may not have any symptoms at all. It is often discovered during a doctor’s visit when the doctor listens to the heart sounds. Both the left atrium and left ventricle tend to get a little bigger when the mitral valve does not work properly. The ventricle
