Acquired tricuspid stenosis and regurgitation

Abstract

Acquired tricuspid valve diseases can occur due to structural or functional abnormality of the valve. Functional abnormality is the most common cause of tricuspid regurgitation in children and is secondary to annular dilatation caused by volume or pressure overload of the right heart. Two major conditions causing structural tricuspid valve diseases in children are rheumatic heart disease and infective endocarditis. When there is rheumatic involvement of the tricuspid valve, the mitral valve will invariably be involved and the condition is more common among children more than 15 years old. Bacterial endocarditis can cause tricuspid valve disease, mostly regurgitation, in any pediatric age group. This chapter includes etiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of acquired tricuspid valve diseases.