Mitral valve prolapse: association with bizarre behavior, a confusional state, and aphasia

A 30-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a history of sudden onset of bizarre behavior and difficulty in speaking that initially was attributed to drug intoxication. Examination disclosed a confused young man with receptive and expressive aphasia. A late systolic murmur was heard in the mitral area and echocardiography confirmed the presence of mitral valve prolapse. A computed tomographic scan of the head and cerebral angiography showed abnormalities consistent with an infarct of the left temporo-occipital region. Since no other predisposing factors were present, this patient's stroke was probably related to mitral valve prolapse.