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Tricuspid stenosis

Last reviewed: 11 Dec 2025
Last updated: 02 Apr 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • history of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) during childhood
  • dyspnea
  • elevated jugular venous pressure with prominent a-wave
  • low-frequency presystolic (diastolic) murmur at lower left sternal border
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • age: 20-39 years
  • exercise intolerance
  • fatigue
  • jugular pulsations
  • abdominal swelling and discomfort
  • edema
  • cyanosis or hypoxemia
  • atrial fibrillation
  • hepatomegaly
  • ascites, edema, anasarca
  • age: infancy or childhood
  • episodic facial flushing, watery diarrhea, or bronchoconstriction
  • absent right ventricular lift or heave
  • opening snap
  • endocarditis stigmata (e.g., splinter hemorrhages, Osler nodes, Janeway lesions)
Full details

Risk factors

  • group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis
  • metastatic carcinoid tumors
  • artificial tricuspid valve
  • intravenous drug use
  • pacemaker/defibrillator leads crossing tricuspid valve orifice
  • genetic predisposition and environmental factors
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • ECG
  • chest x-ray
  • 2D transthoracic echocardiogram
  • Doppler transthoracic echocardiogram
  • liver function tests
  • blood biochemistry
  • CBC
  • blood cultures
  • 24-hour urinary excretion of 5-hydroxy-indole acetic acid (5-HIAA)
Full details

Tests to consider

  • cardiac catheterization
  • cardiac MRI
  • 3D transthoracic echocardiogram
  • cardiac CT angiography (CTA)
  • [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

congenital

with carcinoid heart disease

with rheumatic fever sequelae

with infective endocarditis

Contributors

Authors

John R. Charpie, MD, PhD
John R. Charpie

Professor

Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases

Division Director

Pediatric Cardiology

Medical Director

Pediatric Cardiothoracic ICU

University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center

Ann Arbor

MI

Disclosures

JRC declares that he has no competing interests.

Jeffrey D. Zampi, MD
Jeffrey D. Zampi

Associate Professor

Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases

Director, Interventional Pediatric Cardiology

University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center

Ann Arbor

MI

Disclosures

JZ is a consultant for Medtronic Inc and Gore Medical. JZ serves on the data safety monitoring board for a clinical trial sponsored by Encore Medical. JZ has served as medical expert for several legal cases.

Amanda D. McCormick MD,

Assistant Professor

Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases

University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center

Ann Arbor

MI

Disclosures

ADM receives grant funding from the NIH.

Acknowledgements

Dr John R. Charpie, Dr Jeffrey D. Zampi, and Dr Amanda D. McCormick would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Martin L. Bocks, a previous contributor to this topic.

Divulgaciones

MLB declares that he has no competing interests.

Revisores por pares

Lokesh Tejwani, MD, FACC

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics

Harry S. Truman VA Hospital

Columbia

MO

Divulgaciones

LT declares that he has no competing interests.

John Coltart, MD, FRCP, FACC, FESC, MRCS

Consultant Cardiologist

Cardio-thoracic Unit

Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital

London

UK

Divulgaciones

JC declares that he has no competing interests.

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Referencias

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Artículos principales

WHO guideline on the prevention and diagnosis of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024.Texto completo  Resumen

Vahanian A, Beyersdorf F, Praz F, et al. 2021 ESC/EACTS guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease. EuroIntervention. 2022 Feb 4;17(14):e1126-96.Texto completo  Resumen

Writing Committee Members., Otto CM, Nishimura RA, 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-e197.Texto completo  Resumen

Artículos de referencia

Una lista completa de las fuentes a las que se hace referencia en este tema está disponible para los usuarios con acceso a todo BMJ Best Practice.
  • Tricuspid stenosis images
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  • Guías de práctica clínica

    • The tricuspid valve: a review of pathology, imaging and current treatment options: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association
    • 2023 ESC guidelines for the management of endocarditis
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