Childhood mitral valve prolapse.

Mitral valve prolapse is now the most common cardiac diagnosis of childhood. The auscultatory findings of a non-ejection click with or without an associated murmur of mitral insufficiency are reviewed and related to the pathologic and histologic abnormalities. Findings at presentation in a large series of patients are given. Potential problems with progressive mitral insufficiency, arrhythmias and bacterial endocarditis are reviewed. This overview attempts to establish the essentially benign nature of mitral valve prolapse in childhood while indicating areas where continued observation is necessary.