What Are The Causes And Risk Factors Of Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation?

Ebstein's Anomaly

Ebstein's anomaly is an uncommon congenital heart defect where abnormalities are present in certain parts of the tricuspid valve of an individual's heart. Individuals affected by Ebstein's anomaly have a tricuspid valve in their heart muscle that separates the right atrium and the right ventricle at a lower position then it does in individuals who do not have this defect. The three leaflets that make up the tricuspid valve in patients with this defect are often considerably larger then they are in a healthy individual. The tricuspid valve often functions poorly because of how these two combined abnormalities affect the normal flow of blood through the individual's heart. A poorly functioning tricuspid valve allows the blood in the heart to flow backward into the right atrium instead of forward into the pulmonary artery. When this defect is left untreated, a severe case of tricuspid valve regurgitation will develop, and the patient will experience heart failure from an enlarged heart. Ebstein's anomaly is the most prevalent congenital heart disease that causes tricuspid valve regurgitation.

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