Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)

General: Typically affects asymptomatic young women who are diagnosed incidentally during a routine check-up. Clinically characterized by palpitations and a midsystolic click. Predisposed to infective endocarditis, thromboembolism, mitral insufficiency, and arrhythmias.

Gross: Redundant soft, glistening valve leaflets with myxomatous degeneration balloon into the left atrium during systole. Chordae are often thin and elongage.

Microscopic: Fibrous tissue with myxomatous degeneration.

Differential Diagnosis: With appropriate imaging or grossly at autopsy the findings are characteristic. However, clinically at auscultation it may be confused with:

• Aortic stenosis, early systolic murmur
• Tricuspid or mitral valve stenosis with a diastolic "opening snap."
• Tumor "plop" of atrial myxoma

Stains:

• Positive:
• Negative:
• Suggested, focused panel:

(Lefkowitch: AP Board Review)

Images:


Cases:

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