Background
The high complexity of mitral valve anatomy and function in mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is not yet fully understood.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to analyze each part of the mitral valve apparatus in children to determine its impact on the presence of MVP and to assess the interaction between the coaptation length (CL) and mitral regurgitation severity.
Methods
We prospectively analyzed transthoracic echocardiograms of 60 patients with MVP (mean age 9.8 ± 3.1 years). We compared these patients with 60 control patients without disease. We determined length of leaflets, chordal length, tenting area, coaptation CL, the intrapapillary muscle distance (IPMD) and relation between CL and severity of mitral regurgitation (MR).
Results
For patients with MVP, the posterior mitral leaflet (PML) was significantly enlarged 13.9 ± 4.1 mm versus 10.7 ± 3.5 mm (p < .01), the primary chordal length was significantly decreased 15.4 ± 3.61 mm versus 17.6 ± 3.8 mm (p < .02), and IPMD was significantly greater 18.1 ± 2.7 mm versus 16.6 ± 4.3 mm (p < .03). The difference between CL for both the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets correlated positively with MR (r = .249, p < .05). A greater than 4 mm CL correlated with at least MR (sensitivity 100%, specificity 72%) and greater than 5 mm correlated with at least moderate MR (sensitivity 100%, specificity 60%).
Conclusion
The majority of pediatric patients with mitral valve prolapse have structural abnormalities that are defined well by echocardiography. In addition to the presence of prolapse and regurgitation, routine assessment of leaflet length, thickness, chordal length and papillary muscle distance is fundamental for patients with MVP.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations –citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.