What is mitral valve prolapse?
The mitral valve sits in the left side of the heart between the left atrium and left ventricle and is composed of two leaflets: anterior and posterior. The mitral valve opens in diastole, when the heart is resting, and allows blood to fill the left ventricle, then closes in systole when the left ventricle contracts. The closed mitral valve prevents blood from flowing backwards into the left atrium. The blood is thus pumped out of the left ventricle through the aortic valve and on to the body. In some people, the mitral valve closes in a slightly improper way. Instead of the two leaflets coming together seamlessly, the leaflets come together in an awkward fashion and flop, or prolapse, into the left atrium during the forceful ventricular contraction. The prolapse may involve one or both the leaflets. This prolapse of the mitral valve causes a “click” sound that can be heard through a stethoscope. If the leaflets prolapse severely, then the mitral valve will leak, or regurgitate, blood b
Mitral valve prolapse is a common condition in which the mitral valve leaflets are floppy or loose. Mitral valve prolapse is diagnosed by echocardiography. Most patients with mitral valve prolapse do not have a leaky valve and do not require surgery. When a valve with prolapse has a severe leak, surgery should be considered.
Mitral valve is one of the four heart valves. This is located between upper (atrium) and lower (ventricle) left chamber of the heart. The job of this valve is to allow only one way flow of blood from upper chamber to the lower one so that blood can subsequently be pumped forward to nourish our body. For this function, it has to open to let the blood flow forward and then close tight to prevent the back flow. In case of mitral valve prolapse, part of mitral valve buckles while closing as shown in the picture below.
When the heart contracts, the mitral valve, located between the left atrium and ventricle, opens to allow the passage of blood into the left ventricle. In mitral valve prolapse, the valve has malformations of the leaflets that open and the strings, or chordae, that support the valve. A small amount of blood leaks backward, called regurgitation, as a result of the leaflets not meeting perfectly as they close. While once considered a defect, some degree of mitral valve malformation is now thought to be a normal variation. In about 95% of cases, benign mitral valve prolapse never necessitates surgery, though physicians may hear a significant murmur with a stethoscope. Diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse, even when mild, is important. Even those with a very mild form should probably take antibiotics before dental exams and procedures to prevent bacterial endocarditis. Mitral valve prolapse does not pose problems for infants, unless it is severe or associated with other congenital heart defe
Mitral valve prolapse (also known as “click murmur syndrome” and “Barlow’s syndrome”) is the most common heart valve abnormality, affecting five to ten percent of the world population. A normal mitral valve consists of two thin leaflets, located between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart. Mitral valve leaflets, shaped like parachutes, are attached to the inner wall of the left ventricle by a series of strings called “chordae.” When the ventricles contract, the mitral valve leaflets close snugly and prevent the backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium. When the ventricles relax, the valves open to allow oxygenated blood from the lungs to fill the left ventricle. In patients with mitral valve prolapse, the mitral apparatus (valve leaflets and chordae) becomes affected by a process called myxomatous degeneration. In myxomatous degeneration, the structural protein collagen forms abnormally and causes thickening, enlargement, and redundancy of the leaf
