What is the most common cause of Mitral Stenosis?

Mitral stenosis is primarily caused by rheumatic heart disease, which often results from rheumatic fever—a complication of untreated streptococcal throat infection. This disease leads to inflammation and scarring of the heart valves, particularly the mitral valve, ultimately resulting in stenosis, or narrowing of the valve opening. This narrowing restricts blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, causing various cardiovascular complications.

The prevalence of rheumatic fever has significantly decreased in developed countries due to better healthcare access and antibiotic prophylaxis, but it remains a leading cause of mitral stenosis in many regions, particularly in developing countries. The chronic inflammation and fibrotic changes in the mitral valve due to rheumatic heart disease create the typical clinical picture of mitral stenosis, emphasizing its role as the most common etiology in affected populations.

While congenital heart defects can result in valvular issues, they are not the most frequent cause of mitral stenosis; this typically arises from specific structural abnormalities present at birth. Coronary artery disease primarily impacts coronary arteries, leading to ischemic heart disease, while hypertensive heart disease mainly affects the heart muscle itself and does not directly cause mitral stenosis. Thus, the direct