What is MVP (Mitral Valve Prolapse) bloodwork?

Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) Bloodwork

There is no specific "MVP bloodwork" as mitral valve prolapse is diagnosed primarily through physical examination and echocardiography, not through blood tests. 1, 2

Diagnosis of Mitral Valve Prolapse

MVP is diagnosed through:

1. Physical examination:

   • Characteristic midsystolic click, often followed by a late systolic murmur 1
   • Dynamic auscultation with positional changes that alter the timing of the click-murmur complex 1

2. Echocardiography (gold standard):

   • Valve prolapse ≥2 mm above mitral annulus in long-axis parasternal view 1, 2
   • Leaflet thickness ≥5 mm (indicates abnormal leaflet thickness) 1, 2
   • Mitral regurgitation typically presenting as high-velocity eccentric jet in late systole 1, 2

Risk Stratification

Risk assessment in MVP focuses on cardiac parameters rather than bloodwork 2:

• Leaflet thickness ≥5 mm
• Moderate to severe mitral regurgitation
• Left ventricular dysfunction (EF ≤60%)
• Left atrial enlargement
• Flail leaflet

Laboratory Tests That May Be Relevant

While no specific "MVP bloodwork" exists, certain laboratory tests may be ordered in specific clinical scenarios:

• In patients with suspected endocarditis: Blood cultures, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP)
• In patients with arrhythmias: Electrolytes, particularly potassium and magnesium
• In patients with heart failure symptoms: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-BNP
• In patients with suspected connective tissue disorders: Appropriate serologic testing

Follow-up and Monitoring

• Asymptomatic patients with no/mild MR: Clinical evaluation every 3-5 years 2
• Patients with high-risk features: Annual follow-up with serial echocardiography 2

Common Pitfalls

• Overdiagnosis of rheumatic heart disease based solely on elevated ASO titers without other supporting evidence 2
• Unnecessary laboratory testing in patients with classic MVP findings on echocardiography
• Missing true rheumatic involvement by assuming all valve abnormalities are due to MVP 2

MVP is primarily a structural cardiac abnormality that requires imaging for diagnosis and monitoring, not laboratory testing. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines focus on echocardiographic criteria for diagnosis and do not recommend specific bloodwork for MVP 1, 2.