MITRAL valve prolapse (MVP), defined as echocardiographic, angiographic, and pathological protrusion of the mitral leaflets into the left atrium during systole, may affect about 5% of the population and was first widely recognized in the mid-1960s.1-3It is frequently associated with a click and/or murmur. A syndrome consisting of nonspecific symptoms, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and arrhythmias has been recognized by many investigators.1-3Although doubt has recently been expressed about the existence of this syndrome,4-6the complications of MVP,2,7-10albeit rare, earn for it an important place in modern cardiology and may represent its "raison d'etre." Pathology and Etiology Because of the generally benign course of MVP, its underlying pathology has been well documented only in advanced forms that are associated with severe mitral insufficiency and have been termed the "floppy mitral valve."7,8Of great interest has been the demonstration of similar pathological changes in 26 patients