What causes mitral valve insufficiency?

Answer 1

MVP (mitral valve prolapse) is generally considered to be present at birth, although quite often it isn't diagnosed until one's twenties.

Usually MVP is not extremely dangerous; very rarely, it has caused sudden death by cardiac arrest.

Some people with MVP take medications such as Metoprolol to regulate their heart rate; others use pacemakers. A third option, less often used, is to implant a defibrillator that only activates if a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia occurs.

MVP is a mild to moderate problem with a valve that causes a slight heart murmur. It is most common in white females who are slightly underweight, but can happen in anyone.

Answer 2

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a valvular Heart disease characterized by the displacement of an abnormally thickened mitral valve leaflet into the left atrium during systole. In its nonclassic form, MVP carries a low risk of complications. In severe cases of classic MVP, complications include mitral regurgitation, infective endocarditis, and - in rare circumstances - cardiac arrest usually resulting in sudden death. Some patients with MVP experience heart palpitations, atrial fibrillation, or syncope, though the prevalence of these symptoms does not differ significantly from the general population. Between 11 and 15% of patients experience moderate chest pain and shortness of breath. These symptoms are most likely not caused directly by the prolapsing mitral valve, but rather by the mitral regurgitation that often results from prolapse. For unknown reasons, MVP patients tend to have a low body mass index (BMI) and are typically leaner than individuals without MVP. MVP is a frequent occurrence in individuals with the Marfan syndrome. [1]

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitral_valve_prolapse

Answer 3

Mitral valve stenosis in adults, for example, is rarely congenital and is usually acquired, either a result of having rheumatic fever as a child or developing calcium obstruction in the valve later in life.

Answer 4

In the past, rheumatic fever was the most common cause of mitral valve insufficiency. However, the increased use of antibiotics for strep throat has made rheumatic fever rare in developed countries.

Answer 5

Complications of mitral valve prolapse include heart murmurs and arrhythmias.