Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease (VHD) refers to several diseases and disorders associated with the valves of the heart. VHD is caused by infection, congenital abnormalities (damage present at birth), or heart damage brought on by the use of defective pharmaceutical drugs, including Fen-Phen, Redux, Permax, Dostinex. These defective drugs have been shown to increase the risk of artery damage.

Often, the manufacturers of these drugs are aware of the increased risk of artery and heart damage caused by their drugs, but fail to properly inform physicians or patients of these dangers. In many cases, drug-induced artery damage victims and their families are entitled to receive compensation for their injuries. An attorney can assist a victim and a victim’s family in receiving compensation for emotional stress, to cover medical bills, and punitive damages.

Heart Valves

The human heart is comprised of four chambers, including two upper chambers called the atria and two lower chambers called the ventricles. These chambers are responsible for pumping blood throughout the heart and into arteries that carry the blood throughout the body. Heart valves open and close with each heart beat to control blood flow from one chamber into the next:

• The mitral valve is the only valve with two cusps and is located between the left ventricle and atrium.
  
• The tricuspid valve is comprised of three cusps and is located on the right side of the heart.
  
• The aortic valve opens to allow blood to leave the heart from the left ventricle and is located on the left side of the heart.  
  
• The pulmonary valve is located between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery, and opens and closes to allow blood to leave the heart.

When properly functioning, each chamber prevents blood from flowing backwards into another chamber. Patients with valvular heart disease have a malfunction of one or more of these valves.

Types of Valvular Heart Disease

There are five types of valvular heart disease, including valvular stenosis, valvular regurgitation, atresia, and mitral valve proplapse.

• Valvular stenosis is a condition in which a narrowing, thickening, fusion, or blockage of one or more valves of the heart interferes with the smooth passage of blood.
• Valvular regurgitation is a condition in which blood leaks backward into a chamber as a result of one or more of the heart’s valves improperly closing. The leakage may keep the heart from circulating a sufficient amount of blood through the defective valve.

• Atresiais a condition in which one or more of the heart’s valves fails to properly develop and is completely closed at birth.
• Mitral valve prolapse is a condition in which two of the mitral valve tissue flaps improperly close, resulting in backward blood leakage into the left atrium (mitral valve regurgitation).

Causes Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease can develop in the womb before birth (congenital heart valve disease), or can develop from infection or degeneration from the use of certain defective drugs, including Fen-Phen, Redux, Permax, and Dostinex (acquired valve disease).

Congenital Heart Valve Disease: Congenital heart valve disease is the mot common type of valvular heart disease. This type of valvular disease is present at birth.
Congenital heart valve disease is often diagnosed within a few days of birth. However, if the valvular defect is minor, it may not be discovered until much later in life.

Acquired valve disease: Acquired valve disease describes valvular abnormalities that develop after birth. These problems can affect the structure of the valve due to a variety of conditions, including rheumatic fever, endocarditis, or the use of defective drugs (Fen-Phen, Redux, Permax, and Dostinex).

• Rheumatic fever develops as a result of untreated bacterial infection (such as strep throat), and is common in children. Heart problems associated with rheumatic fever may not be detected, however, until years later. Rheumatic fever causes the heart’s valves to become inflamed, leading to mitral regurgitation.
  
• Endocarditis develops when bacteria or viruses enter the blood stream and attack the heart valves, cause valvular scarring, and lead to leaky valves.

Bacteria that cause endocarditis can enter the blood stream during surgery, IV drug use, severe infection, or even during dental work.

• Pharmaceutical drugs have been shown to increase the risk of developing acquired valve disease. These drugs include Fen-Phen, Redux, Permax, and Dostinex. These drugs alter metabolism and serotonin production in the body. Seratonin is a natural substance found in the brain and the intestines that affect blood vessels.

Other causes of valvular heart disease include coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), high blood pressure (hypertension), aortic aneurysms, tumors, and radiation.

Valvular Heart Disease Symptoms

People who slowly develop valvular heart disease over time may have few noticeable symptoms. However, as time progresses, a person may begin to experience palpitations, rapid weight gain, chest pain, and/or swelling in the feet, ankles, or abdomen (edema).

Each type of valvular heart disease may present unique symptoms, including shortness of breath, weakness or dizziness, pressure on the chest, and heart palpitations. However, symptoms may not always reveal the seriousness of the heart disease, as many people have few symptoms.

It is crucial that anyone with symptoms of VHD seek medical evaluations from a physician to diagnose the condition. Without treatment, VHD can lead to heart attack, heart failure, or death.

Diagnosing Valvular Heart Disease

Diagnosing VHD involves visiting a physician who specializes in the heart (cardiologist) for evaluation of the heart’s function and structure. Evaluation includes physical examination, an electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiography or Doppler ultrasound, and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

After testing, a physician evaluates whether valvular heart disease is the cause of the symptoms. If VHD is implicated, prompt treatment for the condition is necessary.

Valvular Heart Disease Treatment

Treating valvular heart disease may involve a number of medications or surgical procedures to improve the function of the heart. Some people with minor valve problems may not need treatment. More serious valve disorders can successfully be treated with a single medication or combination of mediations, including ACE inhibitors, which help to widen blood vessels to lower blood pressure and decrease the heart’s workload; antiarrhythmics, which maintain a regular heart beat to more effectively pump blood through the body; antibiotics, which treat infections; anticoagulants, which prevent the formation of blood clots; and inotropes, which improve the force of the heart’s beats and contractions.

If medications fail to improve the heart’s functions, surgery may be required. These procedures work by either repairing a damaged heart valve or replacing a damaged heart valve. Such procedures include percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty, a non-surgical procedure; valvulotomy, an open-heart surgical procedure in which a surgeon cuts into a valve to repair damage; and minimally invasive heart valve surgery, a procedure in which a defective valve is repaired through a small incision in the breastbone.

If surgical valve repair is not an option, a heart valve replacement may be performed. This open-heart surgical procedure replaces a damaged heart valve with a biological or mechanical valve to improve heart function.