Which of the following may cause mitral valve regurgitation murmurs?

Which of the following may cause mitral valve regurgitation murmurs?

• A. Prolapse
• B. Atrial fibrillation
• C. Aortic dissection
• D. Pulmonary embolism

Answer: (A)

Mitral regurgitation murmurs come from blood leaking backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole because the mitral valve isn’t closing properly. A classic, direct cause is mitral valve prolapse, where the valve leaflets billow into the left atrium during systole, making the valve incompetent. This produces a holosystolic murmur best heard at the apex and often radiates toward the axilla. Atrial fibrillation is a rhythm disturbance and, while it can accompany mitral valve disease, it does not by itself create a mitral regurgitation murmur. Aortic dissection can involve the aortic valve and cause an aortic root–related murmur (aortic regurgitation) rather than a mitral one. Pulmonary embolism affects the right heart and can be associated with other murmurs, such as tricuspid regurgitation, but not typically a mitral regurgitation murmur. So, the direct mechanism here is mitral valve prolapse causing MR murmurs.

Mitral regurgitation murmurs come from blood leaking backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole because the mitral valve isn’t closing properly. A classic, direct cause is mitral valve prolapse, where the valve leaflets billow into the left atrium during systole, making the valve incompetent. This produces a holosystolic murmur best heard at the apex and often radiates toward the axilla.

Atrial fibrillation is a rhythm disturbance and, while it can accompany mitral valve disease, it does not by itself create a mitral regurgitation murmur. Aortic dissection can involve the aortic valve and cause an aortic root–related murmur (aortic regurgitation) rather than a mitral one. Pulmonary embolism affects the right heart and can be associated with other murmurs, such as tricuspid regurgitation, but not typically a mitral regurgitation murmur.

So, the direct mechanism here is mitral valve prolapse causing MR murmurs.