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$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.