Sudden death in young females with floppy mitral valve syndrome

Three cases of sudden death in young females with clinical and pathological features of the floppy mitral valve syndrome are presented. Two patients had a history of syncopal attacks and were found to have intermittent cardiac arrhythmias, in addition to auscultatory findings consistent with mitral valve prolapse. The third patient had complained of attacks of giddiness associated with tachycardia. Sudden, unexpected death in all three cases resulted in coronial autopsies being performed. The clinical and autopsy findings are presented and discussed.