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Definition

noun

A pattern of symptoms indicating a disorder of the heart caused by the failure of the mitral valve to close properly during systole, resulting in heart arrhythmia, mid-systolic click and/or late systolic murmur.

Supplement

In this heart disorder, the mitral valve (the cusps between the left atrium and left ventricle) does not function properly. Hence, a clicking sound is heard from the heart as the blood flows. At times, heart murmurs may also result when a small amount of blood flows backwards into the left atrium. Most common symptoms include heart palpitations, syncope, and chest pain.

The condition may arise due to valve infection, complication, or by valve dysfunction possibly inherited as an autosomal dominant form. The condition is more common in women than men.

Synonym(s):

• Barlow's syndrome
• mitral-valve prolapse
• mitral valve prolapse
• floppy-valve syndrome