Association Between Arrhythmias and Mitral Valve Prolapse

Abstract

The founding fathers were not referring to the medical literature when they proclaimed that certain facts were obviously true and required only brief consideration to recognize their veracity. Unfortunately, many academic and practicing physicians seem to have taken this quotation to heart with respect to their understanding of a variety of medical paradigms. One of the most frequently cited and fervently held concepts is the association between mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and arrhythmias. The rare occurrence of sudden cardiac death in patients with MVP has raised a frightening spectre before these patients, the vast majority of whom will have no sequelae whatsoever.^1-5 In this issue of the Archives, Kramer and his associates question the previously "self-evident" tenet that patients with MVP are remarkably prone to both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias.⁶ Similar "heretical" data has recently been published by Savage et al.⁷ See also p 2360. Since MVP