Carcinoid heart disease: case and literature review

Acta Cardiol. 2010 Apr;65(2):261-4. doi: 10.2143/AC.65.2.2047065.

Abstract

We present the case of a 69-year-old woman with a metastatic neuroendocrine tumour of the ileum and severe tricuspid valve regurgitation due to carcinoid valvulopathy. Carcinoid heart disease arises in the context of metastatic serotonin-producing neuroendocrine tumours and typically presents as structural and functional abnormalities of tricuspid (TV) or pulmonary valve (PV). Carcinoid heart disease arises from a low-grade neuroendocrine tumour derived from serotonin-producing enterochromaffin cells that reduces the mobility of the leaflets. Following the development of this type of heart failure, the prognosis is unfavourable and patients usually die as a result of heart failure and not because of the metastatic disease. Our patient was not considered a candidate for valvular surgery because of the progressive nature of the malignancy. However, surgical valve replacement is a therapeutic option that, although it has a significant mortality, needs to be considered in selected patients and leads to improvement in functional capacity and survival.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoid Heart Disease / complications*
  • Carcinoid Heart Disease / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Prognosis
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Tricuspid Valve / pathology*
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / diagnosis*
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / etiology*