International journal of cardiology
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Cardiac arrest has been reported in patients with mitral valve prolapse; however, clinical characteristics and survival information are limited since most of the cases reported include autopsy data. Nine patients (2 male, 7 female) with mitral valve prolapse were identified who had cardiac arrest; ventricular fibrillation was documented in 8 patients; resuscitation was unsuccessful in 2. Eight had a history of palpitations (months to 15 years duration) and ventricular arrhythmias, 3 had a history (5-15 years) of recurrent syncope, and 1 was totally asymptomatic. ⋯ All 9 patients had auscultatory and echocardiographic evidence of mitral valve prolapse. Seven survivors (6 still alive) were followed from 3 to 14 years after cardiac arrest. A subset of patients with mitral valve prolapse and cardiac arrest is described in whom past medical history is compatible with cardiac arrhythmias or syncope, and whose long-term prognosis appears better than patients with other causes of cardiac arrest.