A health condition in which the blood flows with difficulty from the heart muscle to a blood vessel that goes to the lungs is called pulmonary valve disease. This is a serious health condition that may cause multiple health problems because it reduces the amount of oxygen tissues and organs in the body receive. Usually, the prognosis of this condition is good, and it is treated with medicines and surgery.
In other words, anything that negatively affects the heart valve from working properly is called pulmonary valve disease. In general, the pulmonary valve allows the blood flow from the heart’s right chamber (lower ventricle) to the lungs through the pulmonary artery. Therefore, the oxygen-poor blood gets fresh oxygen and then goes to all tissues and organs in the body. If you develop a problem with the pulmonary valve, it may lead to reduced oxygen levels in all structures in the body.
In some cases, this condition is called pulmonary valve disease, and it occurs quite commonly. Some babies are born with different valve tissues. Moreover, a lot of diagnosed cases are very mild and do not require treatment. Approximately 7% of people with congenital heart defects develop pulmonary valve disease, and about 1 in 7,000 babies has pulmonary atresia in the United States.
Types of Pulmonary Valve Disease
Healthcare professionals have divided this condition into 3 types. For example:
- Pulmonary valve regurgitation (leaking)
- Pulmonary valve stenosis (narrowing)
- The third type is known as pulmonary atresia, and it occurs when the valve is missing or is not formed properly
Symptoms
Usually, people with this condition experience the following symptoms. For example:
- Extreme tiredness
- Chest pain
- Lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Reduced tolerance to exercise
- Cyanosis (bluish lips, skin, or nails)
While people with mild stenosis or regurgitation do not have symptoms, babies with pulmonary atresia may experience problems with feeding, breathing, and cyanosis. They can also experience drowsiness during the day.
Causes
The cause of pulmonary valve disease varies depending on the severity and type of the condition. Check some causes below:
- Pulmonary stenosis causes – Usually, doctors cannot identify what exactly causes this condition, but in some cases, they have a genetic disorder or a mother with rubella during pregnancy.
- Pulmonary regurgitation causes – For example, pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure), endocarditis, rheumatic fever, or other heart diseases present at birth (congenital). Commonly, people with this type of pulmonary valve disease also have Tetralogy of Fallot.
- Pulmonary atresia causes – While most of the time it is not possible to determine the cause of this disorder (idiopathic pulmonary atresia), it may occur due to some genetic changes or prolonged exposure to certain chemicals.
Risk Factors
While it is not always possible to determine the cause of pulmonary valve disease, doctors have identified some factors that may increase your risk of developing it. Check below some of them:
- Congenital heart defects (heart problems present at birth)
- Noonan syndrome – This is a genetic disorder that significantly increases the risk of pulmonary valve stenosis.
- German measles (also called rubella) – When a pregnant woman gets rubella, it may lead to pulmonary valve stenosis in the baby.
- Family history – If you have a parent or sibling with this condition, your risk of developing it significantly increases.
- Rheumatic fever – This condition can cause damage to the heart valves.
- Infective endocarditis – It is a bacterial infection of the heart valves that may cause damage.
What Happens if Pulmonary Valve Disease is Left Untreated?
Those who develop this condition may also experience some complications. Check below some examples:
- Right ventricular hypertrophy
- Heart failure
- Arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm)
- Pregnancy complications
- Leaky valves
- Future valve replacement
This document does not contain a full list of pulmonary valve disease complications, but you can consult with your doctor about ways to reduce the risk of developing them.
How to Prevent Pulmonary Valve Disease?
This condition cannot always be prevented, but you can take steps to reduce the risk. For instance, you should perform tests for rubella to get the vaccine if you plan to become pregnant. In some cases, you can reduce the risk of developing pulmonary valve disease if you prevent its causes, including pulmonary hypertension, endocarditis, and rheumatic fever.
Diagnosis
First, doctors will listen to your heart using a stethoscope during a physical examination. They may also ask some questions about the symptoms and medical history to get more clues about the disease. However, to confirm or exclude this disorder, doctors may perform the following tests. For example:
- Fetal echocardiogram (for pulmonary atresia)
- Echocardiogram (for all types of pulmonary valve disease)
- Pulse oximetry (often used to diagnose pulmonary atresia)
- Cardiac catheterization (used to diagnose pulmonary valve stenosis or atresia)
- Electrocardiogram (used to check for pulmonary atresia or pulmonary valve regurgitation)
- Heart MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), used to diagnose pulmonary valve stenosis or regurgitation
- Chest X-ray (this is another imaging test often used to diagnose pulmonary valve regurgitation)
Treatment
Check below some treatment options often prescribed by doctors for people with pulmonary valve disease:
- Balloon valvuloplasty – This option is used to widen the pulmonary valve.
- Diuretics – This group of medicines is often recommended by doctors to remove excess water from the body.
- Medicines for pulmonary hypertension or endocarditis
- Transcatheter procedure or open-heart surgery – These treatments are used to repair a leaky valve or put in a new one. Usually, these options are prescribed by doctors in severe cases.
- A stent – Doctors may use a stent to keep a baby’s ductus arteriosus open instead of allowing it to close after birth. In most babies, the ductus arteriosus closes shortly after birth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to recover from this treatment?
Usually, people stay in the hospital for 1-2 weeks after surgery. Moreover, people often recover within months after surgery. For more details, discuss it with your doctor.
How do I take care of myself?
Physicians may recommend some tips along with the previous treatments to improve the effectiveness of the treatment and reduce the symptoms. For example:
- Stop smoking – If you have problems with smoking cessation, it is advised to talk with a healthcare professional.
- Regularly perform physical exercise
- Dietary changes – You should add to your diet more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoid processed foods.
- Manage chronic health conditions – These include hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, diabetes, and others.
When should I go to the ER?
Immediately go to the nearest emergency room (ER) or call 911 if any of the following symptoms occur. For example:
- Infection symptoms (such as bleeding after surgery, fever, and others)
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting
- Heart palpitations
If you have any other questions, ask your healthcare provider.
