The Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome in Athletes

In brief The mitral valve prolapse syndrome is prevalent in apparently normal people, including athletes. Symptoms, when present, range from chest pain and palpitations to anxiety neurosis. The typical finding on auscultation of the heart is a midsystolic click and/or a mid-to-late systolic high-frequency murmur. Cardiac arrhythmias are common and often do not require therapy. The exercise ECG shows ST segment depression in up to one fourth of patients. When drug therapy is necessary, beta blockers are usually selected. The overall prognosis is excellent. Sudden death, infectious endocarditis, and cerebral thromboembolic events are relatively rare.