Mitral valve Prolapse (Floppy Valve Syndrome)

Located on the left side of your heart, the mitral valve links the upper chamber, the atrium, to the ventricle below. When functioning normally, the mitral valve, which consists of two leaflets, controls the movement of blood between the chambers.

In some people, however, one or both of the valve leaflets balloon out (prolapse). The prolapse of the valve results in extra clicking sounds that your physician can detect when listening to your heart with a stethoscope. The condition may also result in failure of the valves to close properly, and blood may leak back into the atrium during pumping by the ventricle. This flow of blood back into the atrium produces a sound called a murmur. The combination of these sounds has led to one of the names for mitral valve prolapse, the click-murmur syndrome.

This generally harmless condition may be found in as many as 1 in 10 Americans, more often in women than in men. It also is more common in women who have scoliosis or certain other skeletal abnormalities

Signs and Symptoms

1. Mostly you will be free of symptoms and can be discovered accidentally on routine heart examination
2. Brief episodes of rapid heartbeat (palpitations);
3. Chest pain: The pain is usually said to be sharp or stabbing. It may last for a few hours or a few days and is not brought on by exercise. The cause of this pain is not known. Some doctors have suggested that is may be due to an abnormal structure in the bones of the chest or to changes in the muscle tone of the chest wall. Despite the pain, the expected course of mitral valve prolapse is very good.

Diagnosis:

Your physician probably will diagnose mitral valve prolapse with the aid of a stethoscope.

An electrocardiogram may be ordered and 24 hour holter ECG may be required if your palpitations are frequent.

Your physician or a cardiologist may do a confirming test called an echocardiogram.

Is it a serious disease?

Often, mitral valve prolapse is discovered during a routine stethoscope examination of your heart. Unsettling as such a discovery may be at first, the condition is rarely a cause for concern. In a small percentage of cases, however, this condition may cause episodes of rapid heartbeat (palpitations), chest pain, and significant valve leakage which may require regular medical attention or even surgery.

Treatment:

The vast majorities of people with this condition live normal lives, have normal life expectancies, and are not required to make adjustments in their lifestyles. For most, the condition is probably best regarded as nothing more than a harmless variation from normal.

Mitral valve prolapse may put you at greater risk of infective endocarditis. As a precaution, prophylactic use of antibiotics before dental and certain surgical procedures is appropriate

lf you are among the few people who have mitral valve prolapse that produces frequent and troubling palpitations, your physician may prescribe a beta adrenergic blocker drug. These drugs block the stimulating effect the hormone epinephrine has on your heart.