Re: 18yo son

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on March 10, 1999 at 18:38:48:

In Reply to: 18yo son posted by Regina Cofield on March 08, 1999 at 16:33:35:






My son was diagnosed with Mitra Valve Prolapes about 2mo.ago.We tryed diet(no cafine)more rest,vitamins,etc..He complains with chest pain alot.He also tells me how"aware"he is of his heart beat.I understand from what i have been told and have read this is not common.Please can you tell me if he should be having these symptoms.Is there something else we should be doing?Should we follow up with additional treatment.I am very concerned.Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated!
                                                       Sincerly,
                                                      Regina Cofield




Dear Regina,
It is not at all uncommon for patients with MVP to have chest discomforts of
all sorts, nor to be "aware" of their heart beat.
MVP itself is not "common" however it is not "uncommon" either.
The best follow up for your son is with his doctor on a regular basis, and sooner
if any new symptoms develop, if only to be reassured that it is nothing to worry about.
If on the echocardiogram your son has MVP with MR (mitral regurgitation)
then his follow up will be more frequent than not.
Of all MVP patients, about 15% will develop MR that requires surgical repair.
The follow up is important because often the MR (mild or severe) will be asymptomatic.
There is no diet or drug currently known that can "cure" or even prevent the progression of disease that
occurs in the 15% I spoke of above (nor is it in any way predicable who will be in that 15%.)
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.