Mitral stenosis describes the obstruction of blood flow across the mitral valve from the left atrium to the left ventricle. This leads to increases in pressure within the left atrium, pulmonary vasculature and right side of the heart.

Causes:

• Rheumatic fever (main cause)
• Infective Endocarditis
• Atrial Myxoma - tumor in the atria which gives a classic 'plop' noise when listening to the S1 and S2 (rare)
• carcinoid

Risk factors:

• streptococcal infection - untreated can lead to rheumatic fever
• female
• SLE
• amyloidosis

PC:

CHAPS

• Cough
• Heart failure features
  • haemoptysis
    • due to pulmonary pressures and vascular congestion
    • may range from pink frothy sputum to sudden haemorrhage secondary to rupture of thin walled and dilated bronchial veins
• Angina
• Palpitations