What is the treatment for MR?

• A. Valve Repair or Replacement
• B. Medical Therapy Alone
• C. Pacemaker Implantation
• D. Balloon Valvotomy

Answer: (A)

Mitral regurgitation causes blood to flow backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole, leading to volume overload and progressive heart dysfunction. The definitive treatment targets the valve itself: repairing the native mitral valve or replacing it if repair isn’t feasible. This approach directly corrects the leak and improves survival and LV function when the MR is significant or symptomatic.

Medical therapy can help manage symptoms and heart failure but does not fix the underlying leak. Pacemaker implantation doesn’t treat MR. Balloon valvotomy is geared toward fixing stenosis and can worsen or not help a regurgitant valve. So the best answer is repairing or replacing the mitral valve.