Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral Valve Prolapse is a condition affecting the heart's mitral valve, which controls blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle. In this condition, the valve's leaflets bulge or prolapse into the left atrium during heart contraction, sometimes causing blood to leak backward, known as mitral regurgitation. This can lead to symptoms like palpitations, chest pain, or fatigue, although many people have no symptoms. The heart is part of the cardiovascular system, and this valve problem can affect how efficiently blood is pumped through the body. It is often discovered during a routine heart exam when a doctor hears a characteristic heart murmur. While usually benign, it can occasionally cause complications such as arrhythmias or infective endocarditis.

Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) is a valvular heart disorder characterized by the myxomatous degeneration and redundancy of the mitral valve leaflets, leading to their systolic displacement into the left atrium. The underlying pathology involves connective tissue abnormalities causing leaflet thickening and elongation of the chordae tendineae. MVP is often idiopathic but can be associated with genetic connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The major clinical significance lies in its potential to cause mitral regurgitation, which can lead to volume overload of the left atrium and ventricle, arrhythmias, and rarely, sudden cardiac death. Physical examination may reveal a mid-systolic click followed by a late systolic murmur. Echocardiography is essential for assessing leaflet morphology and the degree of regurgitation.