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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Mitral Valve Prolapse & Long term Effects
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Mitral Valve Prolapse & Long term Effects
by Chris__0__0, Jan 15, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Doctor,
I am a 30 year old male and was diagnosed with a mitral valve prolapse
13 years ago after I began having chest pains. I had some tests done back
then and the doctor assured me that it was nothing serious. I have two concerns:
(1). Are ther any long term effects from this condition.
(2). Should I be taking any kind of medication when I visit the dentist?
The doctors told me that it was not necessary to do so, but my dentist
feels differently. Should I be taking the doctor's advice?
Thank You.
Chris
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD APS, Jan 15, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Chris,
The answer to your question depends on whether or not your valve leaks (called mitral regurgitation.)
Approximately 15% of patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) progress to needing a mitral valve surgery (repair and or replacement). For this reason the echo should be repeated if a murmur or any new symptoms develop. In general MVP patients are followed by a cardiologist about once a year (i.e. so long as the valve is only mildly to moderately affected.)
The presence of MR and/or a floppy appearing valve do require antibiotic prophylaxis on dental visits.
I suggest you seek a second opinion and an echo if one has not been done since the original diagnosis; obviously you also need some education by your cardiologist regarding the extent of your MVP and what the future might hold for you taking the echo and your symptoms in to consideration.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.
