What Are the Causes of Enlarged Heart Valves?

The valves of the heart open and close to help direct the flow of blood. Bacterial infections, congenital diseases and certain medications can disrupt the blood flow causing enlarged heart valves.

Endocarditis

• Endocarditis is an inflammation that is caused by a bacterial infection growing on the heart valves. The infection can enter the bloodstream through dental work, a deep cut in the skin or after a surgical procedure.

Rheumatic Fever

• Rheumatic fever is a childhood illness that develops when strep throat has not been properly treated. Common symptoms of this bacterial infection are enlarged heart valves, shortness of breath and chest pain.

Ebstein's Anomaly

• Ebstein's anomaly is a congenital defect where the valves stick to the walls of the heart preventing blood flow. Since the blood cannot move, it causes an enlargement or swelling of the valves.

Tricuspid Atresia

• Tricuspid atresia is a rare congenital disease where the tricuspid valve lacks an opening for the blood to pass through. Normally, deoxygenated blood enters the right side of the heart and flows out to the lungs. While in the lungs, the blood picks up oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood then returns back to the left side of the heart. With tricuspid atresia, the blood is blocked from entering the lungs causing a condition known as cyanosis. Cyanosis is a blue coloration of the skin and lips due to the insufficient amount of oxygen in the blood.

Medications

• The drugs fen-phen (fenfluramine) and Redux (dexfenfluramine), which were used to treat obesity, were found to cause valvular regurgitation. Valvular regurgitation occurs when the heart valves become enlarged causing the blood to flow backward within the heart. The medications have since been removed from the market.