Afib and valve problems

[Spangle14]

I have recently read somewhere that afib can cause problems with the heart valves.it Just another thing to add to the list of complications from afib! Has anyone heard of this before or has any further information about it? Thank you

[SamAdmin]

Good afternoon

Thank you for your post on the Atrial Fibrillation support forum.

Hopefully another member will be able to advise you about heart valves being affected by AF.

I have downloaded a booklet you might find interesting FAQ's Booklet:

api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

If you would like any further information please contact us on the form below:

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Kind regards

SamAdmin

Booklet

[baba]

I don’t know about AFib causing problems with heart valves but valve problems can cause AFib.

[Jonathan_C in reply to baba]

I came here to make a similar comment as I have first hand experience in this regard!

[BobD Volunteer]

Other way round. Leaky valves can over presure the atrium and so stretch it making AF more likely.

[DoodyToot in reply to BobD]

Not necessarily the case. I have had Permanent AF for 26 yrs and the atria are enlarged. This has resulted in moderate regurgitation of both the mitral and tricuspid valves. These valves are like double swing doors on hinges, and when the top chambers enlarge a gap eventually becomes apparent in between the doors leading to regurgitation; this is a fact in my case and possibly in other long time permanent AF sufferers.

[Tellingfibs]

Like Bob and baba, I believe it’s the leaky heart valves that can cause Afib. That’s what my cardiologist said when I was diagnosed in 2017. Before I had my echocardiogram, he felt I must have had Scarlet Fever as a child ( quite common when I was a child in the 1950s ), even though I insisted I had not. However, once he saw that I had a mildly leaky Mitral valve ( and since, Aortic valve ), he said that was almost certainly the cause. When I asked if the leaky valves would get worse, he told me that they certainly could, but ‘ “ if they do, it will likely be sooner rather than later “. They are still the same 7 years on, but of course they had already done their dirty deed !

Annie.

[Ppiman]

I was told that this can be caused by a prolonged fast ventricular rate (i.e. pulse), rather than by an arrhythmia in the atrium. This happened to me when I had uncontrolled tachycardia from atrial flutter (similar to AF) which caused some mild valve regurgitation. As soon as the AFl was resolved by an ablation, the valve returned to normal.

My elderly friend, now 90, has had permeant AF for very many years, but at a lower rate, and he has some regurgitation, but his doctor told him that this isn't unusual in elderly people. It hasn't caused him any concerns.

Steve

[DawnTX]

I actually have a friend of mine who is quite the athlete and was a professional hockey player. Last year he was diagnosed with a fib. It turned out for him. His valve was the problem. They replaced it and he has not had any a fib issues since. he is back up and on the ice again playing for charities now since retirement.

[Ersilia2]

In my case I was diagnosed with 3 leaky heart valves first, then 15 years later I was diagnosed with Afib.

[En85]

Afib is known to cause valve problems on the long term. The exact mechanism is not totally understood. I participated in a research about the tricuspid valve deformation in Italy. I had long standing afib for at least one year and they have done 3 or 4 heart scans, when I was already in NSR, my tricuspid valve is perfect 👌 If I find the paper I will attach it here.

[Spangle14 in reply to En85]

Thank yo En85 - I would be very interested in seeing the paper

[En85 in reply to Spangle14]

this was the paper to collect data, the research is still going and it will be published maybe next year?

Screenshot of data collection paper