Isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation: the importance of identifying underlying mechanism

Int J Cardiol. 2008 Jul 21;127(3):403-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2007.04.073. Epub 2007 Jul 12.

Abstract

An 88-year-old woman presented with right heart failure, history of diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weight lost, dyspnoea over several weeks and a new pan-systolic murmur. Echocardiography showed retracted tricuspid leaflets with incomplete coaptation resulting in severe regurgitation. Subcostal view showed an adjacent hepatic cyst leading to biopsy, which revealed neoplastic neuroendocrine cells. Her 24-hour urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid level was elevated. The unifying diagnosis was carcinoid syndrome for which she was treated. Echocardiography is an important tool for diagnosis, management and prognosis of carcinoid heart disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoid Heart Disease / complications
  • Carcinoid Heart Disease / diagnosis
  • Carcinoid Heart Disease / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / diagnosis*
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / drug therapy
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / etiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents