Mitral prolapse fatality

[catwoman]

I work at a newspaper, and we have a link to the county medical examiner's office. I'm a curious person, so I check out the daily listings.

Earlier this week there was a listing for a 33-year-old man from the Dallas TX area who died about 20 miles west of Fort Worth on Interstate 20. The state Department of Public Safety investigated the death. ME's cause of death:

Sudden Death due to Mitral Valve Prolapse

I had many questions, among them:

1. Did he know he had a cardiac problem?
2. What were his symptoms?
3. What exactly happened out there on the highway?

We'll never know.

But ... it does emphasize that, yes, boys and girls, you can die from a "benign" condition known as mitral valve prolapse.

And now to return you to your normal programming....

 

[Cooker]

At least no golf clubs were involved..............

 

[Marguerite53]

Oh, god. I hate those. My middle child was looked at in a BAV study at UW (Seattle) and that research cardio told me he has MVP (no BAV like me). He's 22, just graduated and, you know, fumbling around with what to do with his life. In no way can I go announcing that he has MVP when that cardio said it was only discernible on echo. No murmur. And really, just trace.

I guess I'll just have to be content with lurking worry for awhile.

Wish we could have more info on those type of deaths.

Marguerite

 

[Wise]

Wish we could have more info on those type of deaths.

Marguerite

I wish there more info also. I was diagnosed with MVP almost 23 years ago and have lived with a lot of the wierdo symptoms that one can have from this "benign" condition. I was rechecked just a few years ago since MVP was overdiagnosed in previous decades; MVP was confirmed. So, having read of several sudden death cases over the years, I've always wondered how they knew they died of MVP...or WHY they died...or if anything could have prevented it. Too many questions.

Of course, later my BAV was found, which of course is the condition my cardio is concerned about.

 

[Cooker]

Also it seem that in the last several years that we have had high school athletes die while participating in sports (basketball, football etc). I know that when I was in school you had to get a physical to play sports but I also know that there was absolutely nothing comprehensive about the exam. I wonder how many young lives could have been saved or saved in the future by requiring a cardio exam prior to participating in sports? Cheerleaders included.

 

[Karlynn]

It's my guess that it was an undiagnosed condition and arrhythmia was involved. I remember Al Lodwick saying at one time, that many of the sudden deaths of athletes on courts and fields were undiagnosed valve conditions that the press just described as heart attack or heart problem.

 

[Cooker]

It's my guess that it was an undiagnosed condition and arrhythmia was involved. I remember Al Lodwick saying at one time, that many of the sudden deaths of athletes on courts and fields were undiagnosed valve conditions that the press just described as heart attack or heart problem.

I agree 100%

 

[Debster]

There is also a condition called Long QT syndrome in which usually people do not know they have it and it is not discovered until an autopsy. It is an electrical problem in the heart, often genetic. I know a family at my church and two of their four daughters have it for sure, and the others are awaiting testing. The oldest kept having fainting spells during exercise and dr's kept saying she was fine. Finally went to a cardio who detected it. She now has an ICD defibrilator and is on beta blockers. She is only 16. She is very, very lucky this was caught in time. Deb

 

[KatieD]

Twelve years ago my brother died suddenly at age 47 from a "heart attack". He was doing a very physical activity at the time he died. He was herding cattle while jumping off and on a four wheeler. He had gone to a general practitioner who heard a heart murmur and told him he needed to have it checked out sometime. He never did. Since six other siblings now have all been diagnosed with MVP, we are fairly sure he had it as well. Later, we all wondered if we should have had an autopsy done.

 

[Karlynn]

Katie, I'm so sorry to read about your brother. An autopsy at the time might have given you all a quicker heads-up. But it looks like all the diagnoses of you and your siblings has given you the answer.

Do you or any of your siblings have arrhythmia issues?

 

[Marty]

MVP, harmless but occasionally deadly

MVP, harmless but occasionally deadly

After I was first diagnosed with MVP in 1961 I was told that it was a harmless condition but occasionally associated with sudden death! In 1997 I ruptured chordae tendinae while climbing a steep hill on the golf course. I had a feeling of impending doom but didn't die. A checkup revealed a "machinery murmur" -severe regurgitation, but I didn't feel too bad. I had the surgery about eight months after the cords ruptured. A couple of years ago a young woman died doing the Chicago marathon. They say she had MVP.

 

[Computec]

MVP Disasters

MVP Disasters

My own story can be a case in point.

I was diagnosed with mild MVP via an echo in August of 2002. No follow-ups were ever done. I was asymptomatic and it was just an inspired guess by an old country doctor that led me to check it out. I regularly played beach volleyball and was in good shape.

In December of 2005 I had a mild stroke and the echo showed that the mild MVP had rapidly progressed to servere regurg with associated a-fib. So things change and OHS took place a month later.

If I was advising anyone with MVP I'd tell them to demand regular follow-up testing. I was lucky that the stroke pointing to imminent heart failure was mild. It sure got my attention and that of my PCP.

Jerry

 

[susieq14]

Just curious and feel silly that I don't know this ...

does anyone know if the same holds true for just a leaky mitral valve with regurgitation? that's what I have but the cardio always says I don't have MVP

 

[Karlynn]

Susie - I don't know the exact answer to your question. I will tell you that the mitral valve tends to be a little more of a "diva" than the aortic, in the it is associated with more rhythm disturbances, has a bit higher risk in some areas.

I 100% agree with Jerry, that people must make sure they get regular (annual) check-up when diagnosed with MVP, MVR or any other valve issue.

Some doctors will still tell patients diagnosed with MVP - Oh, it's not a big deal, a lot of people have it and it's nothing. That may be true for the most part, but a yearly check up is a good thing. Or at the very least, every couple of years.

Jerry - some old country doctors are worth their weight in gold.

 

[Computec]

Prolapse to Regurg

Prolapse to Regurg

To my knowledge, Susie, a regurgitating valve is far more serious.

A prolapsed valve is one that's starting to not seal properly by folding back on itself a little when closed. Usually medical intervention isn't necessary. Most doctors will keep an eye on it though.

A regurgitating one allows the blood flow to reverse through the valve. This significantly distroys it's efficiency as a one-way door. The outcome of this happening to a mitral vavle tends to be pleural edema (buildup of fluid in the lungs causing shortness of breath) and the heart working harder to supply oxygen through the arteries while some of the volume is going out the new backdoor.

I'd question the cardiologist's prognosis on this. regurgitation is not good but it's a matter of degrees from "not good" to "very not good".

Some people can keep on chugging with only a slight slowdown with mild reguritation. No loss of efficiency in the heart muscle is good for a living critter. Servere reguritation requires intervention.

Jerry

 

[Computec]

MVP to MVR

MVP to MVR

I should add, Susie, that you've gone past MVP.

That's why you don't have it. You can't say "Are we there yet?" when it's already come and gone.

Jerry

 

[Karlynn]

I should add, Susie, that you've gone past MVP.

That's why you don't have it. You can't say "Are we there yet?" when it's already come and gone.

Jerry

Yes, good point Jerry. The valve had prolapsed to the point that blood is regurgitating back into the chamber. Hence Mitral Valve Regurgitation. Some people will say "I have MVP with regurgitation." Most people with MVP have some amount of regurge, tiny tho' it may be for some. As the flaps weaken and get floppy - the more blood regurgitates back. At least that's my understanding.

 

[KatieD]

Do you or any of your siblings have arrhythmia issues?

Karlynn,

My brother did not have any arrhythmia issues that I'm aware of. My sister-in-law, his wife, is a nurse and I think she would have picked up on it.

Another brother and sister have had issues with a-fib, my sister's problem is an on-going battle. My sister, MaryC, and I have had no problems with it.

 

[catwoman]

I'm glad to see all these posts.

I come across far too many people who have MVP or a "leaky" MV who think nothing of their condition. Sometimes they're ostriches, sometimes the doctor trivializes it. But for whatever reason, it's out of sight, out of mind.

Granted -- according to statistics -- MOST people with MV problems never go on to have problems requiring medical intervention.

But many of us here drew the black bean.

 

[Adrienne]

I'm glad to see all these posts.

I come across far too many people who have MVP or a "leaky" MV who think nothing of their condition. Sometimes they're ostriches, sometimes the doctor trivializes it. But for whatever reason, it's out of sight, out of mind.

Granted -- according to statistics -- MOST people with MV problems never go on to have problems requiring medical intervention.

But many of us here drew the black bean.

I used to think nothing of my condition, and it was because the doctor (doctors) trivialized it. I also drew the black bean!