Mitral Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Mitral regurgitation, or MR, symptoms range from acute to chronic.

Acute MR presents symptoms like dyspnea, hypotension, tachycardia, thready peripheral pulses, cool, clammy extremities, and cardiogenic shock.

Chronic MR may remain asymptomatic for years.

As the disease advances, early manifestations of left ventricular failure may include weakness, fatigue, palpitations, and dyspnea.

These gradually progress to orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and peripheral edema.

Assessment of MR begins with a comprehensive patient history collection and a physical examination focusing on cardiac auscultation.

The presence of a systolic murmur, described as a blowing sound best heard at the apex of the heart and often radiating to the left axilla, suggests MR.

Diagnostic tests include echocardiography, which assesses regurgitation severity, valve anatomy, and ventricular function.

A cardiac MRI reveals detailed images of the mitral valve and surrounding structures, while an electrocardiogram can reveal atrial fibrillation.