Tricuspid valve disease is a condition in which the valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle doesn’t work properly. Tricuspid valve disease may be congenital – meaning it is present at birth, or it may result from other causes.

The most common types of tricuspid valve disease include:

• Tricuspid stenosis – In this condition, the leaflets of the valve become thick or stiff, and may fuse together. The narrowed valve doesn’t open fully, restricting blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
• Tricuspid regurgitation – In this condition, the valve doesn’t close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the right atrium when the right ventricle contracts.

Signs & Symptoms

Some people with tricuspid valve disease do not experience symptoms until the disease has progressed silently for many years. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath with activity
• Feelings of a rapid or pounding heartbeat
• Pounding or pulsing feeling in the neck
• Swelling in the belly, legs or neck veins

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider will perform a comprehensive physical and heart history. After discussing your medical history, providers typically use echocardiography to diagnose tricuspid regurgitation. This test can also identify any valve abnormalities that would indicate the primary form of the condition. Rarely, if an echocardiogram doesn’t provide enough information, providers order a cardiac catheterization.