tricuspidalisregurgitation

Tricuspid regurgitation, also known as tricuspid insufficiency, is a type of heart valve disease where the tricuspid valve, located between the right atrium and the right ventricle of the heart, does not close properly. This improper closure allows blood to leak backward from the right ventricle into the right atrium during ventricular contraction. This backward flow is called regurgitation.

The tricuspid valve is made up of three leaflets. When the heart's lower right chamber (right ventricle) contracts, it pumps blood into the pulmonary artery. Normally, the tricuspid valve leaflets coapt or seal shut to prevent blood from flowing back into the right atrium. In tricuspid regurgitation, this seal is incomplete.

Causes of tricuspid regurgitation can be primary, meaning there is a problem with the valve itself, such as damage from rheumatic fever, endocarditis (infection of the heart valve), or congenital defects. Secondary tricuspid regurgitation occurs when the right ventricle enlarges due to conditions like pulmonary hypertension, left-sided heart failure, or certain lung diseases. This enlargement stretches the valve ring, preventing the leaflets from closing tightly.

Mild tricuspid regurgitation is common and often asymptomatic. However, significant regurgitation can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the legs and abdomen (edema), and palpitations. Diagnosis is typically made through echocardiography, which visualizes the heart's structure and function and assesses the severity of the regurgitation. Treatment depends on the severity and the underlying cause, ranging from monitoring to medication to correct fluid balance or address the root cause, and in severe cases, valve repair or replacement.