Prevalence of Mitral Valve Prolapse in Children with Chest Pain

Background and Mitral valve prolapse is a common finding in different age groups that is often without any sign but sometimes accompanied by chest pain, panic and anxiety attacks. Although these symptoms are less prevalent in children, but their identification, to some extent, can help in preventing them. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in children attending Pediatrics Heart Clinic in Imam Hussein Hospital, 2014. Children (aged 3-16 years of old) who referred with chest pain were examined in Pediatrics Heart Clinic, 2014.Then, electrocardiography (ECG) and chest x-ray were ordered and echocardiography was also performed. At first mitral valve was assessed and in case of mitral valve prolapse more than 1 millimeters, diagnosis was made in Four chamber and Long Axis and then confirmed. A total of 94 children with chest pain were examined, among whom 49 (52.1%) were girl and 45 (47.9%) were boy. The majority of the children were diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (92 cases, 97.9%). They all had chest pain and 36 (38.3%) had dysrhythmia. Shortness of breath was observed in 4 (4.3%) and history of faint was also reported in 4 (4.3%). ECG was abnormal in 5 children (5.3%). Sudden death was not observed in any one. The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in studied Iranian children was high and most of them were asymptomatic.