What is a potential risk following rapid heart rate in Mitral Stenosis?

In cases of mitral stenosis, a rapid heart rate can indeed lead to an increase in left atrial pressure. This occurs because the mitral valve is narrowed, making it more difficult for blood to flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle. When the heart rate increases, the left atrium has less time to empty completely during diastole. Consequently, the increased volume and pressure in the left atrium can result in distension, which creates a substrate for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a serious arrhythmia that can further complicate the clinical scenario in patients with mitral stenosis, increasing the risk of thromboembolic events.

The other options do not directly relate to the consequences of a rapid heart rate in mitral stenosis in the same way. While increased oxygen consumption may occur due to increased heart rate, it is not a specific risk associated with mitral stenosis. Ventricular hypertrophy may develop over time due to pressure overload but is not an immediate consequence of a rapid heart rate in the acute setting. Increased risk of infection might pertain to general aspects of cardiac conditions, such as a predisposition to endocarditis, but does not directly connect to the impact