I'm having a MVP test Monday?

I am pregnant and wondering what my doctor will do to test me. I'm also being tested for rhuemetoid arthritis. Does anyone know the signs of rhuematic heart disease? My doc says its either that or mitral valve prolaps.

This is going to be an ultrasound examination of the Mitral Valve (inside the heart) as well as how the heart muscles are coping with the deranged valve and the pregnancy.

I am pretty sure your doctor is suspecting Mitral incompetence which can be of Rheumatic Heart origin or A Mitral valve leaflet prolapse (Barlow's Syndrome) or just a hyperdynamic circulation associated with pregnancy.

It is best for you to wait for the definitive diagnosis rather than me burdening you with all the different signs of Rheumatic Heart Disease. Which you may not have.

Best Wishes

Your heart is comprised of four chambers: the upper "atria" and the lower "ventricles. The heart also has four valves: the "tricuspid", the "pulmonary", the "mitral", and the "aortic". The valves are one-way doors which allow blood to flow as your heart contracts and relaxes. Each contraction and relaxation comprise a heartbeat. The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle . It is so named because of its slight resemblance to the mitre, a two peaked clerical cap. More aptly, its appearance has been compared to two halves of a parachute arranged canopy to canopy. The mitral valve has two flaps or leaflets which are white, translucent fibrous membranes that stretch over the opening (annulus) between the atrium and ventricle. Even though the leaflets are thin, they are strong and tough. The leaflets form the one-way door that controls the flow of blood. The front leaflet is longer and wider than the back leaflet. They are anchored and kept closed during ventricular contraction by papillary muscles which are part of the ventricle. The muscles are attached to the mitral valve by thin but strong fibrous bands of tissue called "chordae tendineae". Blood passes from the left atrium through the mitral valve to the left ventricle. From there the blood is pumped out of the heart and to the rest of your body. Mitral valve prolapse is the most frequently diagnosed valvular deformity. Sometimes the mitral valve may be too large to fit snugly in its frame of muscles and cords. It will then bow or prolapse. When this happens, the valve may not close properly. Blood may sometimes leak backwards into the left atrium when the heart contracts. A moderate leak can enlarge the left atrium and cause an arrhythmia (irregular heart rate or rhythm) or increase the risk of an infection of the valve. This condition of leaking is variously known as "incompetence," "insufficiency, or "regurgitation." If you have mitral valve prolapse you may have absent, mild, moderate, or severe mitral regurgitation. Most often, mitral valve prolapse is associated with only minimal mitral regurgitation. Your doctor may diagnose mitral valve prolapse during a regular physical examination by listening to your heart through a stethoscope. This is called, "auscultation". Often, he will examine you in three positions: standing, lying supine, and lying on your left side. Your doctor will be listening for a sound called a "click" which indicates prolapse. The click is caused by the tensing of the chordae tendineae and the hammocking of the mitral valve leaflets. Your doctor may hear multiple clicks. If your doctor suspects that you have mitral valve prolapse, he may order a painless diagnostic test called a 2D echocardiogram (sound wave test) for further confirmation and information. Additional testing may include: an electrocardiogram, a chest x-ray, an exercise or pharmacological stress test, a Holter monitor test, or a cardiac catheterization. Your chest x-ray will probably be normal unless you have severe mitral regurgitation. If you have chest pain or discomfort, your doctor may order some of these tests to rule out coronary artery disease.
Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which permanent damage to heart valves is caused from rheumatic fever. The heart valve is damaged by a disease process that begins with a strep throat caused by streptococcus A bacteria, that may eventually cause rheumatic fever. Because of antibiotics, rheumatic fever is now rare in developed countries. However, in recent years, it has begun to make a comeback in the United States, particularly among children living in poor inner-city neighborhoods. The greatest danger from rheumatic fever is the damage it can do to the heart. In more than half of all cases, rheumatic fever scars the valves of the heart, forcing it to work harder to pump blood. Over a period of months or even years, particularly if the disease strikes again, damage to the heart can lead to the serious condition of rheumatic heart disease. In rheumatic heart disease, the damaged heart valve either does not completely close or completely open. Sometimes damage to heart valves is not immediately noticeable, but eventually damaged heart valves can cause serious, even disabling, problems. These problems depend on the severity of the damage and on which heart valve is affected. The most advanced condition is congestive heart failure.
Hope this is of help
Matador 89