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Mitral Valve Prolapse – A Syndrome That Runs In Families

Mitral valve prolapse syndrome indicates abnormality in the function of the heart. This condition refers to the leak of the blood through valve opening .This condition can even lead to the heart failure. The best way to find more on this syndrome to read through the article.


This article covers
  • Symptoms of MVP
  • Causes of MVP
  • Diagnosis of MVP
  • Treatment For MVP
Mitral valve prolapse syndrome (MVP) is an abnormality in the heart valve. The leaflets and chordae in the valves become affected with myxomatous degeneration. Collagen forms causing the leaflets and chordae to thicken and enlarge. Some leaflets become redundant and may prolapse into the atrium, causing the blood to leak through a valve opening (called mitral regurgitation). Not everyone experiences MVP symptoms and treatment is not always necessary. MVP can lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. MVP is also known as “click murmur syndrome” and “Barlow’s syndrome”.
Symptoms of MVP Syndrome
Many people who suffer from mitral valve prolapse syndrome do not experience any symptoms. Some of the symptoms that people with MVP may experience are:
  • Fatigue;
  • Chest pain;
  • Migraines;
  • Panic attacks;
  • Depression;
  • Heart palpitations.
People with MVP may also experience a stroke.
Causes of MVP Syndrome
MVP is thought to be caused mostly by hereditary factors. Most people with MVP are diagnosed with the syndrome in their teenage years. MVP has been linked to Marfan’s syndrome and Graves’ disease. It also seems to be more likely to occur in thin women with minor chest wall deformities or scoliosis.
Diagnosis of MVP Syndrome
There are a number of ways that your doctor may test the see if you may be suffering from mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Your doctor is most likely to detect MVP during a routine check-up with a stethoscope. Your doctor may also want to perform additional tests to evaluate the degree of the MVP syndrome and its effect on the ventricle. Some of the most commonly used ways to test for MVP are:
  • Examination of the patient using a stethoscope. The doctor will check to see if he can hear a clicking sound, which may indicate the tightening of the valve leaflets. He will also see if there is a murmur which may indicate a leakage of blood because of the valve opening. This is the main way that doctors make a MVP diagnosis. The other tests are mainly used to confirm the diagnosis or assess the degree of the MVP syndrome.
  • Chest x-ray. This will allow the doctor to study the size and shape of the heart, and see whether there is anything that indicates a problem.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG). Electrodes are attached to the patient’s skin and the electrical impulses produced by the heart are measured. This gives the doctor information about the heart’s rhythms.
  • Echocardiography. Echocardiography can detect whether the valves are infected, and is used to evaluate the prolapse and mitral regurgitation, and its effect on the ventricle muscles.
  • A tape recording the patient’s heart. The patient will carry a Holter, which continuously records the heart rhythms. These are later assessed by the doctor, who will see if there are any abnormal heart rhythms. Usually, the recording takes place over a 24 hour period, but sometimes the patient will near to wear a recorder for two weeks, pressing a button to record their heart whenever they feel a heart palpitation.
  • Cardiac catheterization. Dye is inserted into the heart, through catheters which are inserted into the blood vessels. This dye then appears on x-ray images. Doctors can use this information to see how the heart, heart valves and blood flow is performing, and whether there is any leakage.
  • An exercise test. The patient’s heart is recorded while they exercise (usually on a treadmill). This test will show any abnormal heart rhythms that occur while the patient is exercising.
Continue to : Treatment For MVP

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