The tricuspid valve is the heart valve located between the right atrium and right ventricle, which are the chambers responsible for pumping blood to the lungs to be re-oxygenated. The tricuspid valve is comprised of three flaps but is otherwise similar to the mitral valve in terms of its structure. The muscles that support the flaps are attached by 'strings' of tissue.

Two diseases can affect the tricuspid valve. The first is tricuspid stenosis, which occurs when the tricuspid valve stiffens, narrows and obstructs blood from flowing between the right atrium and right ventricle properly. Depending upon the extent of the condition, pressure may increase on the valve and blood may not able to pump to the lungs normally. The prognosis and treatment for this condition varies depending upon the severity of it.

Tricuspid valve regurgitation (or tricuspid insufficiency) is just what it sounds like. The tricuspid valve doesn't close correctly, which causes blood to eject back into the right atrium. Prognosis for this condition depends upon the severity of the condition and the illness that causes it to develop. Chronic tricuspid regurgitation is more serious.

Tricuspid stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation can be caused by a variety of sources, including:

• Rheumatic fever (often causes aortic and/or mitral valve disease too)
• Endocarditis
• Pulmonary hypertension causes increased pressure on the valve
• Dilated right ventricle
• Congenital defects
• Heart disease
• Systemic lupus disease

Many people with tricuspid stenosis or tricuspid regurgitation do not experience any symptoms.

• Fatigue
• Pulsing sensation or fluttering discomfort in the neck
• Irregular heart rhythm
• Congestive heart failure symptoms (when disease is more severe), such as shortness of breath, pain on right side of abdomen, edema, cold skin

Your physician may suspect tricuspid valve disease after listening to your heart with a stethoscope and conducting a thorough physical exam that includes taking your pulse and listening to the pulse in your neck. If you physician suspects tricuspid valve stenosis or regurgitation, he or she may order one or more of the following tests:

• Echocardiogram
• EKG
• Chest X-ray
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
• Diagnostic cardiac catheterization
• MRI

Treatment for both tricuspid stenosis and regurgitation may include:

• Endocarditis prevention, including preventive antibiotics before dental work and medical procedures
• Drug therapy to treat heart arrhythmias and heart failure, which are sometimes complications of this condition (diuretics, vasodilators, beta blockers, digoxin, nitrates, antiarrhythmia, anticoagulants)
• Surgical repair or replacement of the valve (rare)

Your treatment may also encompass therapy for complications that can occur with tricuspid valve disease, such as atrial fibrillation, pulmonary emboli, stroke, heart failure, etc. In severe cases, surgery to repair or replace the valve may be required.