Mitral valve prolapse - Overview
Alternative Names
Barlow's syndrome; Floppy mitral valve; Myxomatous mitral valve; Billowing mitral valve; Systolic click-murmur syndrome; Prolapsing mitral leaflet syndrome
Definition of Mitral valve prolapse:
Mitral valve prolapse is a heart problem in which the valve that separates the left upper and lower chambers of the heart does not close properly.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
The heart's mitral valve helps blood on the left side of the heart flow in one direction. It closes to keep blood from moving backwards when the heart beats (contracts).
Mitral valve prolapse is the term used when the valve does not close properly. It can be caused by many different things. In most cases, it is harmless and patients usually do not know they have the problem. As much as 10% of the population has some minor, insignificant form of mitral valve prolapse, but it does not generally affect lifestyle.
In a small number of cases, the prolapse can cause blood to leak backwards. This is called mitral regurgitation. This needs to be treated with medication or surgery.
Mitral valves that are structurally abnormal can raise the risk for bacterial infection.
Some forms of mitral valve prolapse seem to be passed down through families (inherited). Mitral valve prolapse has been associated with Marfan syndrome (a disorder present from birth) and Graves disease.
Many people with mitral valve prolapse are thin women who may have minor chest wall deformities, scoliosis, or other disorders.
Some people with mitral valve prolapse may also have a hole in their heart called an atrial septal defect.
- Reviewed last on: 5/12/2008
- Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
References
American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association: ACC/AHA 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with valvular heart disease. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (writing committee to revise the 1998 guidelines for the Management of Patients With Valvular Heart Disease). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006; 48:1-148.
Salem DN, Stein PD, Al-Ahmad A, et al. Antithrombotic therapy in valvular heart disease -- native and prosthetic: the Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy. Chest. 2004 Sep;126(3 Suppl):457S-82S.
Karchmer AW. Infective Endocarditis. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2007: chap. 63.
