Severe congenital tricuspid regurgitation in the newborn

ABSTRACT

A case of congenital tricuspid insufficiency in the newborn secondary to myxomatous degeneration of the tricuspid valve is described. There were myxomatous changes of the pulmonary and aortic valves. The mitral valve was normal. Histologic study showed an increased amount of glycosaminoglycans and a decreased amount of mature collagen of the tricuspid, aortic, and pulmonary valves. The etiology of congenital tricuspid insufficiency of the newborn can be expanded to include failure of the tricuspid valve leaflets to develop normally, a condition that is histologically similar to myxomatous degeneration in the adult.