Mitral Valve Prolapse

Treatment Overview

Initial treatment

Most people with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) do not have symptoms and do not need treatment. Regular checkups every 3 to 5 years are usually all that is required. A normal lifestyle and regular exercise are recommended for most people with MVP.⁶

If you have symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or palpitations, and your heart examination or echocardiogram suggests a higher risk of complications, you may need more frequent checkups—perhaps yearly.

Your doctor may want to do an echocardiogram to confirm that you have mitral valve prolapse, to see whether you have mitral valve regurgitation or, possibly, to rule out other heart problems.

Ongoing treatment

To prevent an infection of the heart (endocarditis), which is a complication of MVP, your doctor may recommend that you take antibiotics before you have certain dental and medical procedures. Guidelines recommend antibiotics for those who have thickened valve leaflets or mitral valve regurgitation as a result of MVP.⁶

If you have severe mitral valve regurgitation as a complication, you may need surgery to repair the mitral valve. If your mitral valve cannot be repaired, you may need surgery to replace the mitral valve. Surgery may also be needed if other structures related to the mitral valve are severely damaged.

See an illustration of mitral valve replacement.

If you have irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrillation), your doctor may prescribe medicines, such as:

• Beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to control heart rate.
• Anticoagulants to prevent stroke.

Treatment if the condition gets worse

In rare cases, severe mitral valve regurgitation, which is a complication of MVP, can lead to heart failure. Treatment for heart failure includes taking medicines and making diet and lifestyle changes, such as limiting salt intake, balancing your rest and activity, and avoiding infection. For more information, see the topic Heart Failure.

Surgery to repair or replace your mitral valve may be required.

More information Treatment for MVP with mitral valve regurgitation

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Author:	Douglas Dana Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: April 4, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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