Carcinoid Heart Disease without Severe Tricuspid Valve Involvement

Abstract

Carcinoid syndrome causes a rare form of acquired valvular heart disease which typically occurs in the setting of liver metastases. In carcinoid-induced valvular heart disease, the tricuspid valve is almost universally affected; left-sided valve disease occurs infrequently in affected patients. Herein, we report 2 cases of carcinoid-induced valvular heart disease; one case had no evidence of tricuspid valve involvement despite severe involvement of all other valves, while the other case was without severe tricuspid valve involvement.

Improving outcome of valve replacement for carcinoid heart disease

“…Almost all patients with carcinoid heart disease have some degree of tricuspid valve regurgitation, and tricuspid valve replacement is performed in the majority of patients. 14 In our earlier experience, the pulmonary valve was frequently excised at the time of tricuspid valve replacement. Although pulmonary valve regurgitation was tolerated well early postoperatively, longitudinal follow-up of patients who had pulmonary valvectomy showed increased risk of progressive right ventricular enlargement.…”

Noninvasive evaluation of right hemodynamics in carcinoid heart disease: A case report

“…Left‐sided lesions have been reported in up to 15% of patients in presence of right‐to‐left shunt through a patent foramen ovale, bronchial carcinoid, or high hematic level of 5HT . Occasionally, a more severe involvement of the left valves and even tricuspid valve sparing can be observed . Our patient showed the typical echocardiographic signs of CHD on both the right and the left side of the heart: these findings can be related to the elevated hematic levels of 5HT and the uncontrolled metastatic disease.…”

Important Update for the Readers of Our Article

“…Our article entitled 'Carcinoid heart disease without severe tricuspid valve involvement' was recently published in Cardiology [1] . One patient included in our series had severe mitral and aortic valve regurgitation and moderate pulmonary valve regurgitation due to carcinoid heart disease.…”