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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Mother valve leakage - daughter heart murmur
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Mother valve leakage - daughter heart murmur
by S.David, Oct 13, 2000 12:00AM
My 63 year old mother was recently (within a year) diagnosed with high blood pressure and 1 leaking valve and 2 "seeping" valves - her cardiologist doesn't seem to give her much information only changes her high blood pressure medicine - is she a canidate for surgery? What form? In addition, after reading through your forums - I have become concerned about my 3 year old daughter who was diagnosed with a "functional" mumur at 2 years of age - should I be more concerned now about her since there is "heart problems" in the family? My daughter has had one echo and nothing else - should I request a echo annually to make sure her murmur doesn't develop into more?
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, MD, Oct 13, 2000 12:00AM
, Oct 13, 2000 12:00AM
Dear David,
A. Mother - It depends on what valves are involved and to what degree they are leaking. Symptoms or lack thereof are also very important in determining the best treatment. In general the aortic and mitral valves are treated more seriously than the tricuspid and pulmonic. As long as there is no damage to the heart and there are no symptoms due to the leakage the situation may be closely watched. If either symptoms or heart damage begins to show then surgery should be considered. The timing of surgery is more art than science but generally once the decision is made to operate we prefer to go sooner rather than later.
A. Daughter - This one is more straightforward. Functional murmurs are due to increased blood flow across the pulmonic valve and the "vibrations" of the heart and valves. There is no true leakage at all. They are characterized by a systolic "hum" that disappears when the child stands up. There is no increase in heart problems, risk of death or other medical problems with a functional murmur. If asked if a child correctly diagnosed with a functional murmur has a heart murmur the answer is "no". There is no need to get yearly echos for functional murmurs.
Hope this helps.
A. Mother - It depends on what valves are involved and to what degree they are leaking. Symptoms or lack thereof are also very important in determining the best treatment. In general the aortic and mitral valves are treated more seriously than the tricuspid and pulmonic. As long as there is no damage to the heart and there are no symptoms due to the leakage the situation may be closely watched. If either symptoms or heart damage begins to show then surgery should be considered. The timing of surgery is more art than science but generally once the decision is made to operate we prefer to go sooner rather than later.
A. Daughter - This one is more straightforward. Functional murmurs are due to increased blood flow across the pulmonic valve and the "vibrations" of the heart and valves. There is no true leakage at all. They are characterized by a systolic "hum" that disappears when the child stands up. There is no increase in heart problems, risk of death or other medical problems with a functional murmur. If asked if a child correctly diagnosed with a functional murmur has a heart murmur the answer is "no". There is no need to get yearly echos for functional murmurs.
Hope this helps.
