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Some serotoninergic medications and neuroendocrine tumors that produce serotonin (5-HT) have been shown to cause valvular heart disease by stimulating valve cell proliferation via contact with a 5-HT receptor type 2B. Serotonin may play a role in the pathophysiology of progressive valvular disease, such as rheumatic fever complications, people with congenital bicuspid aortic valves, or patients with degenerative aortic valve stenosis. Both the right and left-side cardiac valves appear to be affected by the first inflammation in acute rheumatic fever. Chronic right-sided valve illness occurs in some patients, particularly in those with septum anomalies, whereas left-sided valves are generally afflicted, implying that high flow velocity and systemic pressure adjacent to the valves may play a role in the etiology. Serotonin is carried in granules in blood platelets.
