Mitral Valve Stenosis
Medications
Medications are often used to relieve the symptoms and prevent complications of mitral valve stenosis. Usually they are also prescribed after surgery to repair or replace your mitral valve.
Diuretics ("water pills") are usually prescribed to reduce fluid retention and related swelling. They may also lower blood pressure in the upper left heart chamber (left atrium) and relieve breathing difficulties.
Complications of mitral valve stenosis that may be treated with medications include:
- Irregular heartbeats.Digoxin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and other antiarrhythmics may often be used to slow and regulate an irregular and sometimes rapid heartbeat (atrial fibrillation). Anticoagulants, which are often called blood thinners, are used to lessen the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation.
- Infections.Antibiotics can help prevent heart infection (endocarditis), which is especially important in people who have defective or artificial heart valves. Antibiotics may also help prevent a recurrence of rheumatic fever. They are recommended before certain medical and dental procedures and after surgery to repair or replace a valve.
- Blood clots.Anticoagulants can lower a person's risk of stroke by preventing the formation of potentially harmful blood clots. They are needed after surgery to repair or replace a valve, or to prevent a stroke.
- Heart failure.Diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors help lower blood pressure, reduce fluid accumulation in the lungs, and therefore ease strain on the heart. Digoxin is used to slow a rapid and irregular heartbeat; it also increases the heart's ability to contract, which can increase cardiac output. Used with caution, beta-blockers may be given to ease the heart's workload by reducing the amount of blood the heart needs and by slowing the heart rate, which allows more time for blood to pass through the narrowed mitral valve.
What to think about
Talk with your doctor about the need for medications. If you have used the now-banned weight-loss medication fen-phen, there may be specific concerns about your heart valves.
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| Author: | Douglas Dana Kathe Gallagher, MSW | Last Updated: June 7, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
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