Valvulopathies are those diseases that affect one or more valves of the heart, because they either do not open or close properly, which influences the proper functioning of the heart. The heart valves are mitral, aortic, pulmonary and tricuspid.
Valvulopathies explained in first person
At the current time, we are lucky that there are more treatment options available today, for all types of valvular heart disease, than ever before.
Valvular heart disease is a group of diseases affecting the heart valves. The heart valves have to open and close during the cardiac cycle. Valvular heart disease occurs when one or more heart valves do not open (stenosis) or close (insufficiency/regurgitation) correctly. The most frequent cause of valvular disease is valve degeneration.
Heart valves
The heart has four chambers, two atria (upper chambers) and two ventricles (lower chambers). The valves separate the atria from the ventricles (mitral and tricuspid valves); and the ventricles of the aorta (aortic valve) and pulmonary artery (pulmonary valve). These valves prevent the backflow of blood. The valves are like flaps, and are located at the outlet of each of the two ventricles and they act as intake gates and as output gates.
The four heart valves are:
- The tricuspid valve. This is located between the right atrium and right ventricle.
- The pulmonary valve. This is located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
- The mitral valve. This is located between the left atrium and left ventricle.
- The aortic valve. This is located between the left ventricle and the aorta.
Heart valve function
As the heart muscle contracts and relaxes, the valves open and close, allowing the blood to flow, alternately, between the ventricles and atria. After the left ventricle contracts, the aortic valve closes and the mitral valve opens, allowing blood to flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle. When the left atrium contracts, more blood flows into the left ventricle. When the left ventricle contracts, the mitral valve closes and the aortic valve opens, letting blood flow into the aorta.
Types of valvular heart disease
The four valves of the heart are the aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary valves. Each of these valves is made up of flaps (cusps) that open and close with each heartbeat. Normal valves have three flaps (cusps), although the mitral valve only has two.
Valvular heart diseases are classified into two types:
Valvular regurgitation. The cusps of the valves do not close properly and cause the blood to flow against the normal flow (regurgitation).
Estenosi valvular. Els vels es tornen rígids o gruixuts i estrenyen l'orifici per on la sang circula dins de la vàlvula.
There may be a combination of stenosis and regurgitation. For this reason, valvular heart diseases include: aortic stenosis (or insufficiency); mitral stenosis (or insufficiency); pulmonary stenosis (or insufficiency); and tricuspid stenosis (or insufficiency).
In addition to stenosis and regurgitation, there is a congenital disease called valvular atresia. In this disease, the valve does not form and there is a block of tissue that prevents blood circulating between the chambers of the heart.
How many people does valvular heart disease affect?
It is estimated that approximately 4% of people over the age of 70 have some degree of aortic stenosis (the heart valves do not open).
The most common valvular heart disease after aortic stenosis is mitral regurgitation. About 1.6% of the general population has at least moderate mitral insufficiency. This percentage increases progressively with age.
Tricuspid regurgitation, aortic regurgitation, and mitral stenosis are less frequent, only being found in 0.8%, 0.5% and 0.1% of the population, respectively.
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Published: 23 January 2020
Updated: 23 January 2020
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