Clinical and echocardiographic assessment of Nigerian patients seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital with features of mitral valve prolapse.

In a 3-year prospective echocardiographic study of patients with clinical features of mitral valve prolapse who presented to the cardiology clinic of the medical out patients clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital comprising of sixty-two patients. The most common complaints found were vague chest discomfort (42%) and chest pain. (28%) Their mean body mass index was 20.8 +/- 5.56 Kg/m2. The most common auscultatory sign was apical clicks (8%). Hypertension (12%) was the most common clinical association while the anterior leaflet (87%) was more affected. Mitral regurgitation was present in 35.7% of cases, which were mostly mild in severity (93%). There were statistical differences in the chamber and wall dimension measurements of those with isolated mitral valve prolapse when compared with those associated with other clinical conditions. (p < 0.05). Subjects with isolated mitral valve prolapse were found to have significant differences in the echocardiographic measurements when compared with those with coexisting diseases suggesting that mitral valve prolapse is a relatively benign condition except coexisting with other conditions like hypertension, valvular defects and obesity. These associated conditions tended to increase cardiac risk.