$Unique_ID{BRK04005} $Pretitle{} $Title{Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome} $Subject{Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome MVPS Mitral Leaflet Syndrome Systolic Murmur Click Syndrome Billowing Posterior Mitral Leaflet Syndrome Mitral Click-Murmur Syndrome Ballooning Posterior Leaflet Syndrome Barlow Syndrome Marfan Syndrome Rheumatic Endocarditis } $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1988, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 564: Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible that the main title of the article (Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome) is not the name you expected. Please check the synonym list to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article. Synonyms MVPS Mitral Leaflet Syndrome Systolic Murmur Click Syndrome Billowing Posterior Mitral Leaflet Syndrome Mitral Click-Murmur Syndrome Ballooning Posterior Leaflet Syndrome Barlow Syndrome Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related Disorders section of this report: Marfan Syndrome Rheumatic Endocarditis General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section of this report. Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome is a heart disorder. The exact cause is unknown. It can be a symptom of other disorders such as connective tissue diseases or muscular dystrophy, or it may occur by itself. Major symptoms include chest pain and/or palpitations, accompanied by a heart murmur. An Shortness of breath, fatigue, light-headedness and dizzy spells may, in some cases, progress to an inability to breathe except when sitting in an upright position. There is a characteristic click heard through a stethoscope upon physical examination. Blood may flow back through the heart valve (mitral regurgitation) causing other complications. Symptoms Most patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome have no noticeable symptoms. When symptoms appear, fatigue, weakness, palpitations and dizzy spells occur. Others may experience chest pains or have a history of heart murmur. An irregularity of the normal rhythm of the heart (arrhythmia) may develop. Examination with a stethoscope may reveal sounds of multiple clicks and nonejection clicks. The murmurs are identifiable by soft blowing sounds which are variable and may be heard separately or only at certain times. The flow of blood back through the valve (mitral regurgitation) does not occur in all cases and may be trivial, slowly progressive, or sudden and severe. Serious complications may be associated with the use of oral contraceptives in women with mitral valve prolapse. The rest of the cardiac system usually functions normally. In rare cases, mitral valve prolapse may result in inflammation of the sac around the heart (endocarditis), stroke, or congestive heart failure. Causes Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome can be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. (Human traits including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the interaction of two genes for that condition, one received from the father and one from the mother. In dominant disorders, a single abnormal gene, contributed by either parent, "overrides" the normal gene contributed by the other parent causing disease. Individuals with one affected parent have a fifty percent chance of inheriting the disorder. Males and females will be affected in equal numbers.) Some cases of Mitral Valve Prolapse may develop as a result of neuroendocrine or autonomic nerve dysfunction. The loosening of the connective tissue which acts as the flap of the valve (mitral valve leaflets) may occur. Additionally the fibrous cords that hold the mitral valve to the interior of the heart wall (chordae tendineae) may become elongated and cause this disorder. Abnormally contracting left ventricular wall segments may also be a cause of MVP, or it may develop after rheumatic fever if the heart is affected. Changes in heart valves may also occur as a consequence of connective tissue disorders. (For more information, choose "Connective Tissue Disorder" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.) Affected Population Mitral Valve Prolapse affects males and females, but it most often appears in women of childbearing age. Related Disorders Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Mitral Valve Prolapse. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis: Marfan Syndrome is an inherited disorder of connective tissue that primarily affects the bones and ligaments, the eyes, the cardiovascular system, and the lungs. People with this disorder are unusually tall, and they have large hands and feet. The most serious symptoms of Marfan Syndrome involve the heart. Untreated, the disorder can cause sudden death; with treatment patients can live a normal life span. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Marfan" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Rheumatic Fever is an infectious disease that can occur following streptococcal infections such as strep throat. A few days or weeks after recovery from the strep infection patients experience feelings of ill health (malaise), fatigue and swelling of one or more joints. Major complications can include heart disease, joint pain and arthritis, involuntary abrupt limb movements (chorea) with characteristic facial grimaces, and possible skin symptoms. Treatment should begin as soon as possible, and be maintained for months or even years to help prevent serious complications such as rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic fever can be avoided if strep throat is vigorously treated and cured with antibiotics. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Rheumatic Fever" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Therapies: Standard Testing for mitral prolapse usually involves the following diagnostic tests: chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and angiography, radionuclide studies, exercise testing or ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. Surgery is not usually recommended. However, in rare cases mitral valve prolapse may be treated by replacement of the affected valve. The use of oral contraceptives by women with mitral valve prolapse is contraindicated, and antibiotics should be prescribed before surgical procedures (such as tooth extractions and other minor or major surgery) as a preventive measure to avoid infection. Therapies: Investigational Drugs such as beta blockers and moricizene (Ethmozine) may alleviate many of the heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias and tachycardias) associated with mitral valve prolapse. Other symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, and fainting spells may also respond to these drugs. This disease entry is based upon medical information available through November 1988. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Mitral Valve Prolapse, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 American Heart Association 7320 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231 (214) 750-5300 NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 496-4236 Coaltion of Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue c/o National Marfan Foundation 382 Main St. Port Washington, NY 11050 (516) 944-5412 For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals: March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 (914) 428-7100 Alliance of Genetic Support Groups 35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 (800) 336-GENE (301) 652-5553 References This Rare Disease Database entry is based upon outlines prepared by medical and dental students (1984-1986) at the Medical College of Virginia for their course in human genetics, and the following articles: INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown and Co., 1987. Pp. 475-482. MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE SYNDROME. EVIDENCE OF HYPERADRENERGIC STATE; H. Boudoulas, et al.; Postgrad Med (February 29, 1988, Spec No:). Pp.152-162. COMPLEX VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE SYNDROME. EFFECTIVENESS OF MORICIZINE (ETHMOZINE) IN PATIENTS RESISTANT TO CONVENTIONAL ANTIARRHYTHMICS; C.M. Pratt, et al.; Am J Med (April, 1986, issue 80(4)). Pp. 626-632. MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE IN WOMEN WITH ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE-RELATED CEREBROVASCULAR INSUFFICIENCY. ASSOCIATED PERSISTENT HYPERCOAGULABLE STATE. M.B. Elam, et al.; Arch Intern Med (January, 1986, issue 146 (1)). Pp. 73-77.