MITRAL VALVE DISEASE

MITRAL VALVE EXPLAINED

The heart has four valves that keep the blood flowing in the correct direction. Each valve has flaps that open and close once during each heartbeat.

The mitral valve directs the blood flow from the heart’s left atrium to the left ventricle.

Mitral regurgitation “leaky valve” is a condition in which the mitral valve does not close completely, letting blood leak backward.

WHAT IS MITRAL REGURGITATION?

Mitral regurgitation or “leaky valve” is a life-threatening and highly debilitating disorder, severely limiting physical activity and quality of life. It weakens the heart, initiating a cascade of events, including fatigue, heart rhythm irregularities, high blood pressure in the lungs, shortness of breath and blood clots.

If left untreated, mitral regurgitation leads to heart failure and death.

Mitral regurgitation is the most common heart valve disorder, affecting 2% of the population and 10% of the ≥75-year-olds.

UNMET MEDICAL NEED

There is a tremendous unmet need in the treatment of mitral regurgitation as 98% of people (ca 4 million in EU and US) in need of treatment for this disease have only limited treatment options, mostly because of the invasiveness and risks involved with open-heart surgery, the current gold standard of treatment, and lack of effective less invasive solutions.