The vast majority of people with MVP have no discomfort at all. Most are surprised to learn that their heart is functioning in any way abnormally. More rarely, chest pain is reported. In most cases, no treatment is needed. For a small proportion of individuals with MVP, beta-blockers or other drugs are used to control specific symptoms and some blood pressure lowering drugs may be used to treat mitral regurgitation.
Serious problems are rare, can easily be diagnosed and, if necessary, treated surgically.
The overwhelming majority of people with MVP are free of symptoms and never develop any noteworthy problems. However, it is important to understand that in some cases mitral regurgitation, the flow of blood back into the left atrium, can occur. Where mitral regurgitation has been diagnosed, there is an increased risk of acquiring bacterial endocarditis, an infection in the lining of the heart. To prevent bacterial endocarditis many physicians and dentists prescribe antibiotics before certain surgical or dental procedures. Patients with significant mitral regurgitation should be followed more closely by their physician so that medical therapy and, if necessary, surgery, can be pursued at the appropriate time.