Mitral stenosis is high risk for which complication?

Mitral stenosis is high risk for which complication?

• A. Atrial fibrillation
• B. Endocarditis
• C. Pulmonary hypertension
• D. Systemic embolism

Answer: (C)

Mitral stenosis causes a diastolic obstruction that raises left atrial pressure. That pressure backs up into the pulmonary veins and capillaries, increasing pulmonary venous and then pulmonary arterial pressures. Over time this leads to pulmonary hypertension, which places a high load on the right ventricle and can progress to right-sided heart failure. This hemodynamic pathway is a hallmark high‑risk complication of mitral stenosis. Atrial fibrillation is indeed common in mitral stenosis because of left atrial dilation and it increases the risk of systemic embolism, but the direct, characteristic consequence of the valve obstruction itself is the development of pulmonary hypertension. Endocarditis risk isn’t specifically heightened by mitral stenosis alone, and systemic embolism, while possible, is more tightly linked to AF with left atrial thrombus rather than the stenosis itself.

Mitral stenosis causes a diastolic obstruction that raises left atrial pressure. That pressure backs up into the pulmonary veins and capillaries, increasing pulmonary venous and then pulmonary arterial pressures. Over time this leads to pulmonary hypertension, which places a high load on the right ventricle and can progress to right-sided heart failure. This hemodynamic pathway is a hallmark high‑risk complication of mitral stenosis.

Atrial fibrillation is indeed common in mitral stenosis because of left atrial dilation and it increases the risk of systemic embolism, but the direct, characteristic consequence of the valve obstruction itself is the development of pulmonary hypertension. Endocarditis risk isn’t specifically heightened by mitral stenosis alone, and systemic embolism, while possible, is more tightly linked to AF with left atrial thrombus rather than the stenosis itself.