Infectious Mitral Valve Leakage (endocarditis)
Infections of the heart valves are called “endocarditis”. This phenomenon has become increasingly common in the last few years with the intravenous opioid abuse epidemic. Infections that typically occur at the skin level and the vein site of injection can propagate to the blood and then the heart. All valves in the heart are at risk for infection. These infections can range from those treated with IV antibiotics with a full resolution to those that get out of hand and cause destruction of the valve tissues and leading to regurgitation of the affected valve.
In advanced cases the infection can cause destruction of the tissues that hold the valves in place and lead to a high-risk circumstances where three valves are affected requiring a total reconstruction of the center of the heart. When infections affect the mitral valve and cause severe mitral regurgitation the solution is more often to replace the valve and in a select group of patients repairing it.
Endocarditis of the mitral valve on echocardiogram
Take Home Points:
Severe infections of the mouth, blood and other locations can lead to infection of the heart valves.
Endocarditis of the mitral valve can destroy the valve itself.
Anyone with a new heart murmur after severe infectious illness needs assessment by a heart specialist.