Tricuspid Valve Disease

Tricuspid Valve Stenosis

Tricuspid Stenosis

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In this relatively rare condition, the tricuspid valve fails to open as wide as it should, reducing the amount of blood entering the right ventricle. The tricuspid valve's three leaflets and related structures become stiff, develop scar tissue, or partially fuse together. Tricuspid valve stenosis is most often due to injury to the leaflets caused by medications or rheumatic heart valve disease.

The narrow heart valve must accommodate the same amount of blood, resulting in increased pressure in the right atrium. The right atrium compensates for this increased pressure buildup by stretching. Less blood is pumped to the lungs.

Patients may experience pain in the upper right abdomen and enlargement of the liver. Eventually, tricuspid valve stenosis can damage the heart muscle and can cause irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure or other complications, including stroke or heart infection.

This condition requires tricuspid valve replacement. See more information about heart valve repair or replacement at Mayo Clinic.