Current management of mitral valve prolapse.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiac Surgery
• Valvular Heart Disease

Background:

• Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is an anatomical and physiological abnormality of the mitral valve.
• Mitral valve prolapse syndrome encompasses MVP with associated symptoms or physical findings like autonomic dysfunction.
• MVP affects 3-6% of Americans, characterized by systolic billowing of mitral leaflets into the left atrium.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define mitral valve prolapse and mitral valve prolapse syndrome.
• To describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and prognosis of MVP.
• To outline management strategies, including antibiotic prophylaxis for specific patient groups.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and clinical findings related to mitral valve prolapse.
• Echocardiography as the primary diagnostic tool for identifying MVP.
• Clinical auscultation for characteristic midsystolic clicks and late systolic murmurs.

Main Results:

• Most patients with MVP are asymptomatic; symptoms like chest discomfort and dyspnea are not definitively linked to MVP.
• The primary physical finding is a midsystolic click, often with a late systolic murmur.
• MVP has a benign prognosis with a low annual complication rate (2%), but infective endocarditis is a potential risk.

Conclusions:

• Mitral valve prolapse can be an isolated finding or part of a syndrome.
• Echocardiography is crucial for diagnosis but not recommended for asymptomatic individuals without auscultatory findings.
• Antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis is recommended for patients with MVP syndrome who exhibit murmurs or thickened leaflets.