Risk Factors for Complications with MVP and Natural History

Risk factors for developing complications in a patient with mitral valve prolapse include thickened mitral valve leaflets, severity of mitral regurgitation and older age.

Left ventricular dilatation is a good predictor of the subsequent need for mitral valve surgery. When two or more factors coexist, the possibility of complications is increased.

Mitral valve prolapse can be recognized in children and adults. Most remain asymptomatic. Complictions occur in less than five percent of patients and include progressive mitral regurgitation, chordal rupture causing worsening and even severe mitral regurgitation, infective endocarditis and arrhythmias. Sudden death in patients with mitral valve prolapse occurs rarely; its likelihood increases with increasing severity of mitral regurgitation, a history of syncope or a family history of sudden death.