Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026

A Simplified Stepwise Approach to Echo Guidance during Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair
Published on: October 16, 2021
Premature ventricular complexes increase with heart rate in patients with mitral valve prolapse
Cecilie Bugge1,2, Christian K Five1,2, Tariq Ahmed2,3
1ProCardio Center for Innovation, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, PO Box 4950 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway.
Background:
Patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) are at risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), ranging from premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) to life-threatening VAs. The association between PVC burden and heart rate in patients with MVP is not known. We aimed to identify the association between PVC burden and heart rate in patients with MVP.
Methods:
In this this cross-sectional ambispective case control study we included MVP patients with available Holter monitorings. We defined PVC profiles as fast-heart-rate-dependent-PVC (F-HR-PVC) in case of positive correlation with heart rate, slow-heart-rate-dependent-PVC (S-HR-PVC) in case of negative correlation, and independent-heart-rate-PVC (I-HR-PVC) when no correlation was found. For comparison, we included a control group of age- and sex-matched patients with idiopathic PVCs.
Results:
We included 70 patients with MVP (48 years [interquartile range 35-58], 79% female) and 70 age- and sex-matched patients with idiopathic PVCs. A total of 153 Holter monitorings from patients with MVP were analysed and compared to 70 Holter monitorings from patients with idiopathic PVCs. In the MVP group, we found F-HR-PVC in 44 (63%) patients, I-HR-PVC in 24 (34%) and S-HR-PVC in 2 (3%). MVP patients had more frequently F-HR-PVC and less frequently S-HR-PVC than the control group (p < 0.05 for both). MVP patients with F-HR-PVC had higher rate of NSVTs (incidence rate ratio 2.9 [95% confidence interval 1.1-7.8], p = 0.03) compared to I-HR-PVC.
Conclusion:
Fast-heart-rate-dependent-PVC was the most common PVC profile in MVP patients, and slow-heart-rate-dependent-PVC was rare. These findings suggest a catecholamine-sensitive mechanism acting as trigger for ventricular arrhythmias in MVP patients.
More Related Videos
07:42An Image Guided Transapical Mitral Valve Leaflet Puncture Model of Controlled Volume Overload from Mitral Regurgitation in the Rat
Published on: May 19, 2020
04:48Noninvasive Determination of Vortex Formation Time Using Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiac Surgery
Published on: November 28, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction
Mitral Valve Prolapse II: Assessment and Management
Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction