heart and blood vessel disorders
Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)
Introduction
Mitral valve prolapse is a disorder in which the valve flaps (cusps) bulge into the left atrium when the left ventricle contracts, sometimes allowing leakage (regurgitation) of blood into the atrium. Mitral valve prolapse is sometimes caused by weakness in the tissue of the valve. Most people have no symptoms, but some people have chest pain, a rapid pulse, awareness of heartbeats, migraine headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. Doctors make the diagnosis after hearing a characteristic clicking sound through a stethoscope placed over the heart and confirm the diagnosis with echocardiography. Most people do not need treatment. (See also Overview of Heart Valve Disorders and the video The mitral valve is in the opening between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The mitral valve opens to allow blood from the left atrium to fill the left ventricle and closes as the left ventricle contracts to pump blood into the aorta. Prolapse means that the valve flaps bulge back into the left atrium when the left ventricle contracts. With prolapse, blood sometimes leaks (regurgitates) back into the atrium (see also Mitral Regurgitation ). About 1 to 3% of people have mitral valve prolapse. It causes serious heart problems only if the regurgitation becomes severe, infection of the valve occurs ( Infective Endocarditis ), or weak tissue ruptures. 