Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction

Mitral valve prolapse, or MVP, is a cardiac condition in which abnormalities in the mitral valve leaflets, papillary muscles, or chordae tendineae enable the leaflets to prolapse or buckle back into the left atrium during systole.

MVP can arise from various factors.

Structural alterations in the mitral valve due to myxomatous degeneration are common.

Genetic factors linked to connective tissue disorders like Marfan syndrome also contribute.

Other causes include congenital malformations, age-related degenerative changes, and skeletal conditions like scoliosis or muscular dystrophy.

The pathogenesis of MVP begins with the thickening of valve flaps due to excess collagen and proteoglycans, making them floppy and prone to prolapse.

During the heart's contraction phase or systole, the enlarged valve flaps may bulge backward into the left atrium, leading to abnormal valve closure.

The chordae tendineae, which connect the valve flaps to the heart's papillary muscles, might weaken, further impairing valve function.

It results in mitral regurgitation, where blood rushes back into the left atrium during systole, leading to complications like atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure.