Isolated rheumatic severe tricuspid regurgitation

Abstract

Severe isolated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is very rare, with most cases of TR being functional and secondary to pulmonary hypertension from left heart pathologies. We report an unusual case of a young Nigerian male, who presented to us with dyspnea, repeated hospital admissions for heart failure, and a childhood history of rheumatic fever. Echocardiogram showed massively dilated right atrium and ventricle, noncoaptation of thickened tricuspid valve with torrential free tricuspid regurgitation. Other valves were normal. Cardiac MRI showed normal right ventricular function and viability. Patient underwent tricuspid valve replacement with 35-mm St. Jude valve.

Keywords: Doppler echocardiography; tricuspid regurgitation; tricuspid valve.