Complications

Although most people with mitral valve prolapse never have problems, complications can occur. They may include:

• Mitral valve regurgitation. The most common complication is a condition in which the valve leaks blood back into the left atrium.

  Being male or having high blood pressure increases your risk of mitral valve regurgitation.

  If regurgitation is severe, you may need surgery to repair or replace the valve in order to prevent heart failure.

• Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). Irregular heart rhythms most commonly occur in the upper chambers of the heart. They may be bothersome, but aren't usually life-threatening.

  People with severe mitral valve regurgitation or severe deformity of their mitral valve are most at risk of having rhythm problems, which can affect blood flow through the heart.

• Heart valve infection (endocarditis). The inside of your heart is lined by a thin membrane called the endocardium. Endocarditis is an infection of this inner lining.

  An abnormal mitral valve increases your chance of getting endocarditis from bacteria, which can further damage the mitral valve.