aortic valve sclerosis and mitral valpe with regurgitation

I am a 38-year-old woman who was diagnosed six years ago with mitral valve prolapse with mild regurgitation and aortic valve sclerosis.  Is it common to have both heart conditions at the same time?  I am a bit upset because my cardiologist never told me about the aortic sclerosis, just mvp, and the only reason I know is because the technician left my file open and I read the report.  I've read it's quite rare to have aortic valve sclerosis at my age, that it could be congenital or caused by rheumatic fever.  This makes sense in my case because when I was 16, I was extremely ill with what was thought at the time to be bronchitis, then developed a week later sudden severe arthritis in my big toe joints.  I couldn't walk for two weeks and then it basically went away overnight.

[CarolWindyCity]

Hi Xaxier,

I sympathize. I am a a 43-year-old women, maybe just 10 pounds overwieght and no real symptoms. I had an follow-up echo and was told I had mild-trace triscupid regurgitation (Dr. said "not worth talking about") and mild to trace mitral valve regurgitation (which dr. said was congenital). I was diagnosed with mitral valve at 34, as my sister was at 31. The trace tricuspif just showed up. I got my medical records for an unrelated reason and saw the impression of "aortic sclerosis," and "mild pulminary insuffiecy", which dr. never mentioned. I was told to just take antibiotics before dental work.

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

I was diagnosed with Mitral valve incompetence (congenital defect) when I was 31.  Went into heart failure and heart function deteriorated and had my mitral valve repair 1 year later.

The sclerosis on your Aortic valve and MVP can be from rheumatic fever or even congenital.  The reason for it might never be known.  The fact that the Cardio never mentioned the Aortic valve is because it is not signifant finding and nothing to worry about at this stage.  

The Cardio will grade the leak from 1-6.  Grade 2 will be mild.  Grade 5-6 requiring surgery.  The Treatment for MVP is annual Echo's to check EF and heart function and size of heart chambers.  Indication for surgery is when the heart enlarges and EF drops to low.  Normal EF being 70% and bad EF <40%.  and any signs of heart failure.

In the old days you needed phrophalaxis antibiotics for dental and other small procedures, but the AHFA now says only high risk patients require antibiotics (previous Endocarditis, prostetic heart valves).

You can read up on Barlow's Syndrome or MVP.  All the best for you.