Mitral valve prolapse
What is mitral valve prolapse?
Mitral prolapse is when part of the mitral valve bulges so it can’t close evenly. This can cause regurgitation, as blood flows back into the atrium rather than collecting in the ventricle to be sent out into the body. Typically, mitral valve prolapse requires treatment only in cases with severe regurgitation. Mitral prolapse is also commonly referred to as click-murmur syndrome, Barlow's syndrome or floppy valve syndrome.
Causes
Causes of mitral valve prolapse include:
Hereditary conditions (e.g. Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome)
Heart defects (e.g. extra valve tissue, stretch or bulge)
Symptoms
Mitral valve prolapse itself has no symptoms. However, a prolapsed valve can lead to mitral regurgitation, which can produce symptoms of:
Shortness of breath or fatigue
Irregular heartbeat
Dizziness
Make sure you monitor any changes using a symptom tracker and attend regular checkups with your healthcare provider.
Treatments
Mitral valve prolapse does not require treatment, however if it leads to severe mitral valve regurgitation treatment may be recommended. See Treatment of Mitral regurgitation.
There is a lot to consider when deciding on treatment. These resources will help you ask the right questions and participate in decision making with your heart team.
Patient Stories
If you have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, you are not alone. Learn from people who share their experience — and what they learned about diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if my doctor detects a murmur?
If your healthcare provider detects a murmur during a regular check-up, they may arrange for you to have one or more follow-up tests to help identify the cause. A murmur is not always a cause for concern. You may have a mild form of heart valve disease or sometimes hearts produce a murmur with no apparent cause. The follow-up tests will determine if you have heart valve disease and how to treat it.
Do all heart valve diseases require surgery?
No. Many Canadians who are diagnosed with heart valve disease can live a normal life with lifestyle changes and minimal treatment. Mild and moderate heart valve conditions may never need surgery. Regular check-ups help identify when heart valve disease is worsening and give you time to consider treatment options.
Resources
Initial Consultation Guide
This guide will help you prepare for an appointment with your doctor and support an efficient, informative, and helpful consultation. It outlines the types of questions your doctor may ask you during the consultation, as well as questions you'll want to consider asking.
Shared decision making
People diagnosed with heart valve disease are often confronted with a wide range of treatment options. Shared decision-making involves doctors and patients working together to choose the most suitable treatment, based on the patient’s preferences and goals as well as clinical evidence and the care team’s expertise. These resources aim to support people with heart valve disease in participating in decision-making about their care.
Get the shared-decision making guide
Symptom Tracker
Our symptom tracker has been developed to help people who think they may have heart valve disease, or other cardiac conditions, prior to or during consultation periods with their doctor. It captures symptoms to help you and your doctor understand your health and assist with diagnosis and ongoing care planning.
There is life after treatment.
Each person’s path to recovery will look different. Your treatment plan will be unique to your needs, and likewise, your recovery — the time it takes to return to a normal activity level and adapt to lifestyle changes — may vary from what others experience. Taking time to recover, both physically and mentally, is an important part of your journey.