What can exacerbate the murmur of mitral valve prolapse (MVP)?

In mitral valve prolapse (MVP), the murmur typically associated with the condition is a mid-systolic click followed by a late systolic murmur, which occurs due to the regurgitation of blood through the incompetent valve. The dynamics of heart function significantly influence the characteristics of this murmur.

Increased afterload can exacerbate the murmur of MVP because it increases the pressure in the left ventricle during systole. When afterload is elevated, the ventricle must work harder to eject blood through the aortic valve, which can lead to an earlier onset of mitral valve chordae tendineae tension. This tension can result in an earlier prolapse of the mitral valve leaflets, potentially leading to a more pronounced regurgitant flow. Consequently, the audible murmur of the mitral valve prolapse can be enhanced, making it more detectable during auscultation.

Contrasting options such as decreased preload and decreased afterload would generally lead to a softer or diminished murmur in MVP. Decreased preload reduces the volume of blood in the heart, which lessens the degree of ventricular stretch and tension on the mitral valve, thus leading to a quieter murmur. Similarly, decreased afterload allows