calcification outside of the mitral valve?

[Blean7171]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has significant calcification outside of the mitral valve? I have Calcium score of 0 inside arteries and valves which is great. My cardiologist and colleagues have never seen it before and have ordered an MRI of the heart. Is their anyone else with this? I had rheumatic fever as a child and damaged the valve apparently so calcium is building up around the outside.

[nilmonisikdar40]

Hi , I had a CT angiography at St Thomas and they could not visualise as there was calcium plaque obscuring the vessels. I could not have a MRI because I had a permanent pacemaker. The radiologist there did not believe in calcium score. The result was inconclusive and for last one year I am waiting for angiography. What a waste of time, wasted journey and another wait? So at the end I am in the dark.

[Blean7171 in reply to nilmonisikdar40]

I am sorry you are still in the dark. It must be so frustrating for you. Thankyou

[SuperFluff]

Hello! Sorry I can't be very helpful but just to say that I too have a defective mitral valve due to having rheumatic fever as a child. (I wasn't aware that I had had this. The cardiologist told me when I was diagnosed two years ago.) My regurgitation is only mild to moderate at the moment and my AMVL (anterior leaflet) or in layperson's speak, one of the two doors to the valve, is only 'mildly fibrocalcific' at present. Calcium tends to build up in the heart, where blood flow is most turbulent, from what I have read. (Didn't take in very much info at diagnosis as it was a shock. Will ask more questions at my next echo!)Hope your MRI goes well.

[Blean7171 in reply to SuperFluff]

Thank you so much for your response. Yes I have lots of questions each time I go and sometimes I come out thinking they didn’t really answer my questions lol. I wish you all the best.

[nilmonisikdar40 in reply to SuperFluff]

Hi SuperFluff, How interesting. How old were you when you had the rheumatic fever. Did it affect the joints because sometimes it may not. Rheumatic fever is a disease of the last century. There is a conception " it licks the joint and bites the heart". Surgical correction of mitral valve is easy peasy for cardiac surgeon if they want to replace it.

[Blean7171 in reply to nilmonisikdar40]

It’s definitely not a disease of the last century on Australia. I listened to a podcast just last week on the prevalence in outback Northern Territory.

[SuperFluff]

İ reckon, Nilmonisikdar, that I must have had rheumatic fever when I was about 10 years old (1976) as I had something wrong with my throat given I remember having my tonsils out. Luckily the rheumatic fever didn't leave me with joint issues but I have them anyway as I recently got diagnosed with worsening scoliosis (S curved spine)! This again is apparently from childhood but not picked up - just put down to growing pains...For the UK/USA, rheumatic heart disease is very rare now. Like you said, Nilmonisikdar, it is a disease of the last century but as Blean7171 points out, it is a real issue in Australia, particularly among Aboriginal children, and less wealthy countries.

İt is good to know it is an easy fix. İt is just hard knowing that I will need surgery at some point in the future and having it hanging over my head. However, I do appreciate that it is better knowing about sooner rather than later or learning too late. Given I have rheumatic heart disease even though the odds of getting were very low, I just wish that I could have the same 'luck' when buying a lottery ticket!!

[Blean7171 in reply to SuperFluff]

Yes the uncertain future is difficult to live with.