Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common cardiovascular abnormality in the United States, occurring in approximately 2.4% of the general population. Mitral valve prolapse is the most common condition of the heart valves.

 Clinically, patients with MVP exhibit fibromyxomatous changes in one or both of the mitral leaflets that result in superior displacement of the leaflets into the left atrium. Although often clinically benign, MVP can be associated with important accompanying sequelae, including mitral regurgitation, bacterial endocarditis, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and even sudden death.

The American Heart Association describes mitral valve prolapse as "(when) one or both flaps (of the mitral valve) are enlarged and some of their supporting strings are too long. So, when the heart contracts or pumps, the mitral valve flaps do not close smoothly or evenly. Instead, part of one or both flaps collapse backward into the left atrium. This sometimes allows a small amount of blood to leak backward through the valve".

Etiology

 autosomal dominant mitral valve prolapse : predisposition locus

• MMVP1
• MMVP2 at 11p15.4 (#12707861#)

See also

 heart

• cardiac valve
  • mitral valve