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Mitral stenosis

Last reviewed: 1 Apr 2025
Last updated: 01 Oct 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • history of rheumatic fever
  • dyspnea
  • orthopnea
  • opening snap on auscultation
  • diastolic murmur
  • loud P2
  • neck vein distension
  • paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
  • hemoptysis
  • hoarseness
  • peripheral edema
  • ascites
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • 40-50 years old in rheumatic mitral stenosis, 70-90 years old in mitral annular calcification (MAC)-related disease
  • loud first heart sound (S1)
  • irregularly irregular pulse
  • flushed cheeks
Full details

Risk factors

  • streptococcal infection
  • female sex
  • ergot medications
  • serotonergic medications
  • systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • amyloidosis
  • bronchial carcinoid syndrome
  • atherosclerotic risk factors
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • ECG
  • CXR
  • transthoracic echocardiography
Full details

Tests to consider

  • transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
  • cardiac catheterization
  • dynamic exercise testing
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

nonpregnant

pregnant

Contributors

Authors

Blase Carabello, MD
Blase Carabello

Professor Emeritus, East Carolina University

Director Valve Program, Roper St Francis Health Care

Charleston

SC

Disclosures

BC declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

John R. Charpie, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Medical Director

Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit

University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center

C.S. Mott Children's Hospital

Ann Arbor

MI

Disclosures

JRC declares that he has no competing interests.

David Leaf, MD, MPH

Professor of Medicine

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

UCLA School of Medicine

Los Angeles

CA

Disclosures

DL declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Stollerman GH. Rheumatogenic streptococci and autoimmunity. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1991 Nov;61(2 Pt 1):131-42. Abstract

Fawzy ME, Choi WB, Mimish L, et al. Immediate and long-term effect of mitral balloon valvotomy on left ventricular volume and systolic function in severe mitral stenosis. Am Heart J. 1996 Aug;132(2 Pt 1):356-60. Abstract

Writing Committee Members; Otto CM, Nishimura RA, Bonow RO, et al. 2020 ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with valvular heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021 Feb 2;77(4):e25-197.Full text  Abstract

Wilkins GT, Weyman AE, Abascal VM, et al. Percutaneous balloon dilatation of the mitral valve: an analysis of echocardiographic variables related to outcome and the mechanism of dilation. Br Heart J. 1988 Oct;60(4):299-308.Full text  Abstract

Palacios IF, Sanchez PL, Harrell LC, et al. Which patients benefit from percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty? prevalvuloplasty and postvalvuloplasty variables that predict long-term outcome. Circulation. 2002 Mar 26;105(12):1465-71.Full text  Abstract

Reyes VP, Raju Bs, Wynne J, et al. Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty compared with open surgical commissurotomy for mitral stenosis. N Engl J Med. 1994 Oct 13;331(15):961-7.Full text  Abstract

Subbarao KS, Nachiappan M, Irineu AP. Transventricular mitral commissurotomy in critical mitral stenosis during pregnancy. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2004 Sep;12(3):233-5. Abstract

Delgado V, Ajmone Marsan N, de Waha S, et al. 2023 ESC guidelines for the management of endocarditis: developed by the task force on the management of endocarditis of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) endorsed by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM). Eur Heart J. 2023 Oct 14;44(39):3948-4042.Full text

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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  • Guidelines

    • 2021 AHA/ACC/ASE/CHEST/SAEM/SCCT/SCMR guideline for the evaluation and diagnosis of chest pain: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on clinical practice guidelines
    • 2021 ESC/EACTS guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease
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  • Patient information

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  • Videos

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