Understanding mitral regurgitation

Discover what causes a leaky mitral valve and how it can affect your health

What is mitral regurgitation?

Mitral regurgitation overview

A small leak in the mitral valve can make a big difference for your heart

Your heart keeps blood moving through your body. It sends blood to your lungs to pick up oxygen, then pumps it back out to deliver that oxygen everywhere it’s needed. The heart has 4 chambers and small valves that work like one-way doors, opening and closing to keep blood moving in the right direction.

In mitral regurgitation, the mitral valve doesn’t close completely. This leads to some blood leaking backward instead of moving forward. That is why mitral regurgitation is also known as “a leaky mitral valve” or “a leaky heart valve.”

To keep up with the leak, your heart works harder to move blood through your body. Over time, this strain can lead to other heart complications, which can be more serious if you have heart failure.

See how a leaky heart valve affects blood flow and what it means for your heart health.

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Types and Causes

There are 2 main types of mitral regurgitation

Primary mitral regurgitation (degenerative or organic)

Caused by an abnormality in the valve itself, such as age-related changes, a condition present from birth, heart disease, or rheumatic fever.

Secondary mitral regurgitation (functional)

Caused by heart disease that enlarges the left ventricle or atrium, stretching the valve and preventing it from closing fully. This type of mitral regurgitation is most common in people with heart failure.

Symptoms

Mitral regurgitation symptoms can vary

Some people feel no symptoms for years, while others notice them right away. The most commonly reported symptoms of 
mitral regurgitation may include:

Fatigue or low energy

Shortness of breath

Heart palpitations

Dry, hacking cough

Swollen feet or ankles

Lightheadedness or fainting

If you notice any of these symptoms, or your symptoms worsen, talk to your doctor. 
A thorough exam can help determine whether mitral regurgitation may be the cause.

Treatments

Protecting your heart’s future

Without treatment, mitral regurgitation can worsen over time, leading to an enlarged heart or more serious complications such as heart failure. Getting the right treatment early can help protect your heart’s function and improve your quality of life. Mitral regurgitation treatments are designed to reduce strain on your heart and lungs and help your heart pump blood more efficiently. 

If left untreated, up to 57% of people with a leaky mitral valve may not survive past 1 year.

Treatment options for mitral regurgitation include:

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe medicines such as diuretics to help manage symptoms like shortness of breath or swelling. These can make you feel better, but do not repair the valve itself.

Surgical repair or replacement

If mitral valve repair is an option for you, a surgical technique called an annuloplasty may be performed. This procedure typically involves the implantation of a device to tighten or replace the ring around the mitral valve (annulus) so that the valve leaflets can close properly.

MitraClip™ Therapy

For many, medications may not be enough and surgery is often not a viable option for those with heart failure and a leaky mitral valve. MitraClip Therapy offers a safer, minimally invasive option for correcting mitral regurgitation.

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Is MitraClip Therapy for me?

Use our quick self-assessment to see if this minimally invasive heart procedure could be right for you.

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Ready to discuss with your doctor?

If your mitral regurgitation symptoms are interrupting your daily life, download this discussion guide to prepare for your next doctor’s appointment.

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Important Safety Information
Important Safety Information

What is MitraClip™ Therapy approved for?

Available by prescription only.

MitraClip therapy is a minimally invasive procedure approved for treating patients with clinically significant mitral regurgitation due to either (a) a deteriorated mitral valve in patients who are deemed to be at prohibitive risk for surgery, or (b) mitral valve in patients who have heart failure and reduced pumping function who remain symptomatic despite maximally tolerated medications to treat their heart failure.
Patients should work with their doctor and a multidisciplinary heart team, which may include a heart surgeon and cardiologist with experience treating heart failure, to confirm their surgical risk and to ensure that they are on the optimal medications. The heart team will determine if transcatheter edge-to-edge valve repair is clinically appropriate, and if the patient meets the indications for the MitraClip procedure.

Who should not have the MitraClip Procedure?

Patients that have any of the following conditions should not have the MitraClip Procedure: inability to tolerate or are allergic or hypersensitive to anti-coagulants, anti-platelet therapies, nickel, titanium, cobalt, chromium, polyester, or contrast dye; have inflammation or rheumatic disease of the valve; have blood clots inside the heart or blood vessels (inferior vena cava, femoral vein), or active endocarditis or other active infection of the valve or have mitral or tricuspid valve anatomy which is deemed not suitable for repair with MitraClip.

What are the possible complications associated with the MitraClip Procedure?

As with any medical procedure, there is a possibility of complications. The most serious complications of the MitraClip procedure includes, but are not limited to: death, stroke (a condition in which decreased blood flow to the brain can result in brain damage and may cause severe disability), transient ischemic attack (stroke symptoms that last only a few minutes), major vascular complications (damage to a major blood vessel that may require emergency surgery or urgent cardiac surgery), life threatening bleeding event (a major bleeding event that requires a blood transfusion). For additional potential risks and complications, please consult with your physician or heart team.

Talk to your doctor to learn more about the risks associated with MitraClip Therapy and ask for the detailed Important Safety Information if you’d like to review the full list of complications.

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References: 1. Stone GW. et al. Five-Year Follow-up after Transcatheter Repair of Secondary Mitral Regurgitation. N Engl J Med. March 5, 2023. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMOA2300213 2. Arnold SV et al. Health status after transcatheter mitral valve repair in heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation. JACC Mar 2019, 25951; DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.02.010 3. Mayo Clinic. Mitral valve regurgitation. Accessed June 16, 2025. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mitral-valve-regurgitation/symptoms-causes/syc-20350178 4. Cleveland Clinic. Can a Cough Be Related to Heart Issues? May 5, 2022. Accessed June 16, 2025. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/persistent-cough-it-may-be-a-sign-of-heart-failure 5. Phoenix Heart | Vein | Vascular. 6 Symptoms of Mitral Regurgitation. October 6, 2022. Accessed June 16, 2025. https://phoenixheart.com/6-symptoms-of-mitral-regurgitation/ 6. Cioffi G, Tarantini L, De Feo S, et al. Functional mitral regurgitation predicts 1-year mortality in elderly patients with systolic chronic heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail. 2005;7(7):1112-1117.  7. von Bardeleben, R. et. al. Real-World Outcomes of Fourth-Generation Mitral Transcatheter Repair 30-Day Results From EXPAND G4. JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, 2023. Vol. 16. No. 12. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcin.2023.05.013