Possible mechanisms of mitral regurgitation in dilated hearts: A study using transesophageal echocardiography

Abstract

A major cause of MR in dilated hearts is mitral malcoaptation due to displacement of the coaptation point of the mitral leaflets along the long or short axis of the left ventricle. This is caused by left ventricular enlargement and/or asynergy of the left ventricular wall, rather than by a decrease in mitral coaptation edge length due to mitral annular dilation.