Thickening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).Some people are born with heart structure problems, including damaged heart valves. Heart problem present at birth (congenital heart defect).A leaky mitral valve caused by a heart attack is called ischemic mitral regurgitation. If heart attack damage is very extensive, the event can cause sudden and severe mitral valve regurgitation. A heart attack can damage the area of the heart muscle that supports the mitral valve. Rheumatic fever is rare in the United States. If rheumatic fever causes mitral valve disease, the condition is called rheumatic mitral valve disease. Rheumatic fever can damage the mitral valve, leading to mitral valve regurgitation early or later in life. Rheumatic fever is a complication of untreated strep throat. This common heart problem can prevent the mitral valve from closing tightly and cause blood to flow backward. In this condition, the mitral valve's flaps bulge back into the left upper heart chamber (atrium) when the heart squeezes (contracts). Possible causes of mitral valve regurgitation include: If a problem or disease affecting other areas of the heart cause a leaky mitral valve, the condition is called functional or secondary mitral regurgitation. If mitral valve regurgitation is due to problems with the mitral valve, the condition is called primary mitral valve regurgitation. Mitral valve prolapse can cause blood to leak backward, a condition called mitral valve regurgitation.

In mitral valve prolapse, the valve flaps bulge into the upper left chamber during each heartbeat. The mitral valve separates the two chambers of the left side of the heart.

Flutter valve treatment