Mitral stenosis is a valvular heart disease characterized by the narrowing of the opening of the mitral valve of the heart. It is almost always caused by rheumatic valvular heart disease. Normally, the mitral valve is about 5 cm2 during diastole. Any decrease in area below 2 cm2 causes mitral stenosis. Early diagnosis of mitral stenosis in pregnancy is very important as the heart cannot tolerate increased cardiac output demand as in the case of exercise and pregnancy. Atrial fibrillation is a common complication of resulting left atrial enlargement, which can lead to systemic thromboembolic complications like stroke. Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of mitral stenosis include the following:

Heart failure symptoms, such as dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)
Palpitations
Chest pain
Hemoptysis
Thromboembolism in later stages when the left atrial volume is increased (i.e., dilation). The latter leads to increase risk of atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk of blood stasis (motionless). This increases the risk of coagulation. Ascites and edema and hepatomegaly (if right-side heart failure develops)Fatigue and weakness increase with exercise and pregnancy. Natural history
The natural history of mitral stenosis secondary to rheumatic fever (the most common cause) is an asymptomatic latent phase following the initial episode of rheumatic fever. This latent period lasts an average of 16.3 ± 5.2 years.
Fechtner syndrome is a variant of Alport syndrome characterized by leukocyte inclusions, macrothrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, nephritis, and sensorineural hearing loss. Some patients may also develop cataracts. References


== External links ==