aetiology: chronic or acute

Last reviewed 01/2018

Chronic causes include:

• left ventricle dilation - causing ring distortion or papillary muscle problem - functional
• mitral vale prolapse
• calcification of the ring - rare cause of severe failure
• rupture of chordae
• infarction of papillary muscles
• cardiomyopathy of any sort

Acute causes include:

• infective endocarditis
• chordal rupture
• papillary muscle rupture

Acute mitral regurgitation may result in oedema with heart unable to cope with the volume load.