Hi there…both mitral valve prolapse and atrial enlargement are suspected issues with my heart. I am 24 years old and am experiencing different symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, extreme weakness, and chest pain. Any info would help. Thanks!
I am not sure exactly what information you are looking for and it would be best to discuss your individual case with the doctor taking care of you. Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is the most common congenital abnormality of the heart valves. About 4-5% of people have MVP. Many people have MVP and never have serious problems. MVP can be associated with certain complications, which I will discuss later. The mitral valve is located on the left side of the heart and separates the upper chamber (left atrium) from the (left ventricle.) MVP is basically when the mitral valve leaflets bounce back into the left atrium. Some people with MVP will also have mitral regurgitation in which blood from the left ventricle inappropriately travels back into to the left atrium. The severity of the regurgitation will determine the severity of the disease. Some people with MVP do not have any regurgitation and will not have any significant problems. Some people with MVP can develop severe regurgitation which will require mitral valve repair or replacement. The presence and severity of mitral regurgitation can easily be determined with a special ultrasound of the heart known as an Echocardiogram.
People with mitral valve prolapse are at increased risk for certain abnormal heart rhythms, such as premature atrial contractions, supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation. These arrhythmias are rarely fatal, but can produce the irregular heart beat or palpitations. A 24-48 hour holter heart monitor can be worn to determine if you have any of these. People with MVP (especially those with regurgitation) are also at increased risk of developing infection of the heart valve, known as infective endocarditis. Therefore some people with MVP and regurgitation require antibiotics with certain procedures, such as dental procedures. You can discuss this with your doctor to determine if this is needed in your case.
As I said before, many people have MVP and most people do not have any serious problems. The risk of sudden cardiac death is low. MVP can lead to mitral regurgitation in some people and some of these people may eventually require a heart valve replacement. The Echocardiogram will provide information on the severity in your case. It is impossible for us to predict the outcome in your case. Discuss your case with your Cardiologist. MVP is a huge topic and I am not sure exactly what you are looking for but I hope this helped you some. Good luck.
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2 Responses
john e russo md facm faafp
2010 Aug 23 1This is a potentially dangerous forum in which to seek health-care information. One of the inherent problems is that I do not have all of the information such as the full report of the echocardiogram. Therefore my comments are based upon what little information you have provided and my advice may therefore be flawed. Some 95% of people diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) have a normal variant. The remaining 5% however have a potentially serious problem. ‘True’ MVP is a myxomatous degeneration of the middle portion of the valve leaflet most often the posterior leaflet. This means that the valve does not close or ’seal’ properly so that a significant portion of blood is ejected back into the left atrium instead of all of the blood being ejected forward into the aorta. Over time this leads to an enlargement of the left atrium. As the left atrium enlarges it is increasingly inefficient at pumping all of the blood it collects into the left ventricle. As the left ventricle has less blood to pump and as some of this blood is being pumped backwards in time the amount of blood that the left ventricle is able to pump forward may decrease to the point that it has clinical relevance. In addition the left ventricle due to the added strain of pumping blood both forwards and backwards may undergo change of its own. There may be an increase in muscle mass which may ’stiffen’ the left ventricle and further decrease its ability to fill with blood. Another possibility is that the left ventricle may enlarge in size which weakens its contractile force which would further compromise its ability to pump blood forward. Serial echocardiograms will be able to assess these potential findings and changes. Surgical correction in some individuals is required. Please remember that I am trying to answer your question with very little information and I am not trying to cause you anxiety or concern. If I may be of further assistance please let me know. I wish you the very best of health and in all things may God bless.
References :
Agnodice
2010 Aug 23 2I am not sure exactly what information you are looking for and it would be best to discuss your individual case with the doctor taking care of you. Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is the most common congenital abnormality of the heart valves. About 4-5% of people have MVP. Many people have MVP and never have serious problems. MVP can be associated with certain complications, which I will discuss later. The mitral valve is located on the left side of the heart and separates the upper chamber (left atrium) from the (left ventricle.) MVP is basically when the mitral valve leaflets bounce back into the left atrium. Some people with MVP will also have mitral regurgitation in which blood from the left ventricle inappropriately travels back into to the left atrium. The severity of the regurgitation will determine the severity of the disease. Some people with MVP do not have any regurgitation and will not have any significant problems. Some people with MVP can develop severe regurgitation which will require mitral valve repair or replacement. The presence and severity of mitral regurgitation can easily be determined with a special ultrasound of the heart known as an Echocardiogram.
People with mitral valve prolapse are at increased risk for certain abnormal heart rhythms, such as premature atrial contractions, supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation. These arrhythmias are rarely fatal, but can produce the irregular heart beat or palpitations. A 24-48 hour holter heart monitor can be worn to determine if you have any of these. People with MVP (especially those with regurgitation) are also at increased risk of developing infection of the heart valve, known as infective endocarditis. Therefore some people with MVP and regurgitation require antibiotics with certain procedures, such as dental procedures. You can discuss this with your doctor to determine if this is needed in your case.
As I said before, many people have MVP and most people do not have any serious problems. The risk of sudden cardiac death is low. MVP can lead to mitral regurgitation in some people and some of these people may eventually require a heart valve replacement. The Echocardiogram will provide information on the severity in your case. It is impossible for us to predict the outcome in your case. Discuss your case with your Cardiologist. MVP is a huge topic and I am not sure exactly what you are looking for but I hope this helped you some. Good luck.
References :
Physician
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