iThyroid.com

MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE (MVP)

My feeling is that MVP is a condition caused by copper deficiency.  Copper is essential for the formation of collagen which forms the structure of all the body.  When copper gets deficient, MVP, Graves', hernias, gray hair, etc. result.

In the following study it is stated that " In contrast to early reports, true "MVP syndrome" as revealed by controlled studies consists of low body weight and blood pressure, minor skeletal abnormalities, orthostatic hypotension, palpitations, and mitral regurgitation that is usually mild."  The symptoms of low body weight and palpitations sounds like the symptoms of copper (and iron) deficiency.

Curr Opin Cardiol 1995 Mar;10(2):107-16

Recent developments in the diagnosis and management of mitral valve prolapse.

Devereux RB

Division of Cardiology, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, NY 10021, USA.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP), which occurs in about 3% of adults, is usually a primary, dominantly inherited condition. MVP may be diagnosed by auscultation of a mid-systolic click and late-systolic murmur that move dynamically with postural maneuvers. M-mode echocardiography confirms MVP by demonstrating late-systolic prolapse and two-dimensional echocardiography reveals leaflet billowing into the left atrium. Echocardiography identifies severe forms of MVP by documenting significant mitral regurgitation, enlargement and thickening of the mitral leaflets and annulus, and loss of leaflet apposition. In contrast to early reports, true "MVP syndrome" as revealed by controlled studies consists of low body weight and blood pressure, minor skeletal abnormalities, orthostatic hypotension, palpitations, and mitral regurgitation that is usually mild. Complications of MVP include progressive mitral regurgitation, infective endocarditis, orthostatic syncope, and possible risks of neurologic ischemia and arrhythmic sudden death. Risk factors we have identified for complications among patients with MVP include older age, male gender, the presence of mitral regurgitation, and possibly, higher weight and blood pressure. The cumulative risk of all complications of MVP by age 75 is from 5% to 10% for affected men and 2% to 5% for affected women. Patients with MVP who have neither a murmur nor Doppler evidence of mitral regurgitation may be reassured that their condition is benign. For other patients with MVP we have shown that oral antibiotic prophylaxis is cost-effective. The presence and severity of mitral regurgitation govern the frequency and intensiveness of follow-up.

One of the dangers for people with MVP is bacterial endocarditis which is a bacteria infection of the heart.  Bacteria which can cause this condition may enter the body through surface skin cuts or during dental or other operations.  For this reason, antibiotics are prescribed before dental procedures.  In the following article it is stated that  "most cases of endocarditis are not attributable to an invasive procedure" but antibiotic pre-treatment is recommended for certain patients with MVP.  

J Am Dent Assoc 1997 Aug;128(8):1142-51

Prevention of bacterial endocarditis: recommendations by the American Heart Association.

Dajani AS, Taubert KA, Wilson W, Bolger AF, Bayer A, Ferrieri P, Gewitz MH, Shulman ST, Nouri S, Newburger JW, Hutto C, Pallasch TJ, Gage TW, Levison ME, Peter G, Zuccaro G Jr

OBJECTIVE: To update recommendations issued by the American Heart Association last published in 1990 for the prevention of bacterial endocarditis in individuals at risk for this disease. PARTICIPANTS: An ad hoc writing group appointed by the American Heart Association for their expertise in endocarditis and treatment with liaison members representing the American Dental Association, the infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. EVIDENCE: The recommendations in this article reflect analyses of relevant literature regarding procedure-related endocarditis, in vitro susceptibility data of pathogens causing endocarditis, results of prophylactic studies in animal models of endocarditis and retrospective analyses of human endocarditis cases in terms of antibiotic prophylaxis usage patterns and apparent prophylaxis failures. MEDLINE database searches from 1936 through 1996 were done using root words endocarditis, bacteremia and antibiotic prophylaxis. Recommendations in this document fall into evidence level III of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force categories of evidence. CONSENSUS PROCESS: The recommendations were formulated by the writing group after specific therapeutic regimens were discussed. The consensus statement was subsequently reviewed by outside experts not affiliated with the writing group and by the Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee of the American Heart Association. These guidelines are meant to aid practitioners but are not intended as the standard of care or as a substitute for clinical judgment. CONCLUSIONS: Major changes in the updated recommendations include the following: (1) emphasis that most cases of endocarditis are not attributable to an invasive procedure; (2) cardiac conditions are stratified into high-, moderate- and negligible-risk categories based on potential outcome if endocarditis develops; (3) procedures that may cause bacteremia and for which prophylaxis is recommended are more clearly specified; (4) an algorithm was developed to more clearly define when prophylaxis is recommended for patients with mitral valve prolapse; (5) for oral or dental procedures the initial amoxicillin dose is reduced to 2 g, a follow-up antibiotic dose is no longer recommended, erythromycin is no longer recommended for penicillin-allergic individuals, but clindamycin and other alternatives are offered.

If you have any experiences with MVP or run across any info which might help others, please forward it to me for posting here. Thanks. John

Here is an interesting exchange from hyperthyroidism@egroups.com:

Subj: [hyperthyroidism] Re: Graves + Paxil + MVP
Date: 6/5/00 5:46:03 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: tnccline@nemonet.com (Christine Cline)
Reply-to: hyperthyroidism@egroups.com
To: hyperthyroidism@egroups.com

--- In hyperthyroidism@egroups.com, KTenn36117@a... wrote:
 Hello Deb,
    It is interesting that I've noticed that a few people in the group 
who have thyroid problems ended up having mitral valve prolapse with mitral reguirgitation. I was diagnostic as have MVP w/MR in January and 
February. 
    This was news to me. I really thought it might be inherited cuz my 
father had that and he had a mitral valve tear repaired about 3 years ago. 
Now it appears that one by one have come forward telling us that they were just recently having MVP along with Thyroid problems. I wondered if
this is a big connection between thyroid and MVP???? What do you think??? John??? 
Kozy

Response from Christine:

Hi All!

Personally, I have yet to find a Graves' patient who HASN'T been 
diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse, myself included.


The following is an excerpt from Dr. Walt Stoll, and it exposes the 
Mitral Valve Prolapse smokescreen for what it is:

"Mitral Valve Prolapse--the Current FAD Diagnosis (a diagnosis of 
convenience for the physician)


"The valvular condition described by this medical FAD is a harmless 
"normal varient" of the structure of the heart. The physician uses it 
as a blanket "explanation" for a myriad of symptoms the allopathic 
paradigm has no way of explaining separately. The physician says:
"NOW we know what was causing all those symptoms you have had so long so we don't have to think about them anymore. Here take this pill for your MVP and go live with it."

"The Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) diagnosis is a current fad in 
medicine that has no clinical significance. Just because we CAN 
diagnose something doesn't mean it is important to that person's 
health. Unfortunately, putting a name to someone's symptoms does 
nothing about identifying the causes for them. One could have their 
MVP surgically corrected to normal and NONE of their symptoms, 
ascribed to the MVP, would change at all. As a matter of fact, this 
was actually done in the early days of this "diagnosis" and the fact 
that it did not change symptoms at all powerfully pushed the 
profession to their present stand that this is a normal varient of 
anatomy and is truly a non-symptomatic condition.

"Unfortunately, by the time the profession realized this, many 
physicians found how convenient it was to not have to face their 
multiply symptomed patient and admit that they had no idea what was 
causing their symptoms. Finally, they had some learned thing to tell 
the patient and it felt so GOOD that it is now very hard for them to 
let go of their "pacifier" and, once again, admit to the patient that 
they have no idea what is causing all their symptoms. SO, until the 
public becomes educated, they will continue taking medications for an 
imaginary condition."

So relax - it ain't so bad after all!!

Chris