Dysrhythmia in patients with mitral valve prolapse

ABSTRACT

The association of dysrhythmias with mitral valve prolapse in patients complaining of chest pain was investigated by graded treadmill exercise testing, and 24-hour Holter monitoring. 20 selected patients with a clinical diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse confirmed by echocardiography or angiography or both were studied. On Holter monitoring, 6 patients [30%] had potentially serious ventricular dysrhythmias, 5 of them had manifested ventricular dysrhythmias on treadmill testing. Neither st and ard ECG abnormalities nor clinical symptoms correlated with detected dysrhythmias. This study showed that potentially serious ventricular dysrhythmias are common in patients with mitral valve prolapse and that ambulatory ECG monitoring and treadmill exercise testing are useful for detecting dysrhythmias