Tricuspid Valve Disease – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Tricuspid valve disease affects the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. When this valve doesn’t work properly, the heart must work harder to pump blood effectively.
This condition often occurs alongside other heart valve problems. Many individuals need long-term care to help manage symptoms and maintain heart function effectively.
Signs and Symptoms
Tricuspid valve disease shows different symptoms depending on which specific condition you have and how bad it is.
If you have tricuspid stenosis, symptoms are usually mild and may include:
- Rapid or pounding heartbeat
- Fluttering sensations in the neck
- Feeling tired often
People with tricuspid regurgitation might not notice any symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, they’re often vague, such as:
- General weakness
- Ongoing fatigue
- Swelling in the legs or abdomen
- Pulsing sensations in neck veins
Babies born with tricuspid atresia or Ebstein anomaly often show symptoms right after birth, including:
- Blue or gray coloring of the skin and lips (this may be harder to notice on darker skin tones)
- Breathing problems
- Poor growth and weight gain
- Getting tired easily, especially during feeding times
Some tricuspid valve conditions can lead to right-sided heart failure, which causes:
- Extreme tiredness and weakness
- Trouble breathing
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet
- Fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites)
- Sudden weight gain from fluid retention
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you notice changes in your heartbeat, unexplained weakness, or unusual fatigue, schedule an appointment with your doctor. They may refer you to a cardiologist (heart specialist) for further evaluation and treatment.
What Causes Tricuspid Valve Disease
Tricuspid valve disease can develop from birth or appear later in life due to various health conditions.
To understand these causes, it helps to know that the heart has four valves—aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid—that ensure blood flows in the correct direction.
Each valve has flaps (leaflets or cusps) that open and close during heartbeats. When these flaps don’t work properly, less blood moves through the heart.
Several types of tricuspid valve disease exist:
- Regurgitation: The valve fails to close completely, allowing blood to leak backward into the right atrium.
- Stenosis: The valve opening narrows, making it difficult for blood to flow normally between the right heart chambers.
- Atresia: A congenital condition where the tricuspid valve never forms properly, and solid tissue blocks blood flow between chambers.
- Ebstein’s Anomaly: A rare birth defect where the valve sits in the wrong position and has malformed flaps, potentially causing blood leakage.
Some people are born with tricuspid valve problems. For others, several conditions can damage the valve over time:
- Heart Infections: Infective endocarditis (infection of the heart lining and valves).
- Untreated Strep Throat: Can lead to rheumatic fever, that damages heart valves.
- Genetic Conditions: Marfan syndrome and other connective tissue disorders.
- Rare Conditions: Carcinoid syndrome from specific tumors.
- Cancer: Heart tumors or cancer spreading to the heart’s right side.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Lupus and related conditions.
- Medical Treatments: Scarring from chest radiation or pacemaker placement.
Other heart problems can also affect the tricuspid valve:
- Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
- Pulmonary Hypertension (high pressure in lung blood vessels)
When the tricuspid valve doesn’t open or close correctly, it disrupts normal blood flow through the heart and can lead to various symptoms and complications.
