Prevalence of Mitral Valve Prolapse in Younger Patients with Cerebral Ischaemic Attacks

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Abstract
The association between cerebral ischemic attacks (CIA) and mitral valve prolapse (MVP) was investigated in a blinded study of 30 consecutive patients with cerebrovascular disease and 30 control patients matched by age, sex and immediately apparent neurological signs. All patients were younger than 40 yr old. Phonocardiography, motion-mode and 2-dimensional echocardiography were performed at rest and during various maneuvers. MVP demonstrated by all 3 diagnostic modalities was classified as definite and prolapse in at least 1 but not in all 3 tests was designated as ambiguous. Regarding the frequency of definite MVP, no statistically significant difference was demonstrated between patients with CIA (3%) and controls (0%). Ambiguous MPV was rather common in patients with cerebrovascular disease (13%) but equally frequent in control patients (20%). MVP does not appear particularly common in Northern Europe in younger patients with cerebral ischemic events.