Mitral valve prolapse: do we correctly understand the problem in a particular child?

Abstract

The lecture is devoted to the role of mitral valve prolapse in children and adolescents, in the population and in the formation of health. Particular attention is paid to the mechanisms of its formation, the evolution of the mitral valve prolapse criteria. The reasons for its overdiagnosis,risk factors, as well asthe high frequency of complications are explained. The interrelation of this pathology with connective tissue dysplasias and the inappropriateness of classifying the defect as a group of minor heart anomalies are emphasized. Primary mitral valve prolapse is an independent disease. There is no proven basis to consider it a marker or «affiliation” of systemic connective tissue dysfunction. An algorithm of modern treatment and prevention of mitral valve prolapse for modern pediatric practice is presented.