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Transvaginal correction of pelvic prolapse.

Pelvic prolapse has a myriad of clinical manifestations ranging from urethral incontinence to total vault prolapse. The evaluation and treatment of these conditions is facilitated by dividing them into three anatomic regions. Anterior vaginal wall prolapse is the most common type and includes simple urethral hypermobility as well as severe cystocele. Surgical treatment includes the modified anterior vaginal wall sling, six-corner bladder neck suspension, and formal cystocele repair. Posterior vaginal wall prolapse, manifested by rectocele and perineal relaxation, is corrected by plication of the prerectal and pararectal fascia, reconstruction of the levator hiatus, and repair of the perineal body. Vault prolapse includes enterocele, uterine prolapse, and generalized vault prolapse. The choice of treatment depends on the presence of anterior vaginal wall prolapse, the degree of vault prolapse, and the patient's desire to remain sexually active. It is important to remember that urethral incontinence is only one manifestation of pelvic prolapse, and must be treated in conjunction with other prolapse to avoid recurrence or poor results.

Female↗

Changes in gonadal steroid receptors in the cardinal ligaments of prolapsed uteri: immunohistomorphometric data.

BACKGROUND: The precise mechanism of uterine prolapse is poorly understood. This immunohistochemical study was performed on paraffin-embedded sections of the cardinal ligaments in an attempt to evaluate the differential expression of gonadal steroid receptors in human cardinal ligaments of prolapsed uteri compared with non-prolapsed controls. METHODS: Specimens from women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) stage III (n = 33), together with the appropriate controls (n = 25), were stained for estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha), ERbeta, progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR) and Ki-67. The control materials were samples of the cardinal ligaments obtained from pre- and post-menopausal women with no prolapse, who were not using hormonal therapy. RESULTS The prolapsed ligaments expressed 1.5-2.5 times more ERalpha-positive cells (statistically significant in post-menopausal women not taking HRT, P < 0.001), a 3-4 times greater percentage of AR-positive cells (P = 0.004 and P = 0.008 in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women not taking HRT, respectively) and twice the percentage of PR-positive cells (statistically significant in the pre-menopausal group, P = 0.03) compared with the no prolapse group. Expression of ERbeta was twice as high in the ligaments of pre-menopausal women with no prolapse compared with those with prolapse (P = 0.02), and no significant difference was found in the post-menopausal groups. The use of HRT was significantly associated with low AR and high PR expression. Ki-67 expression was not detected in these specimens. CONCLUSIONS: The clearly discernible levels of expression of ERalpha, ERbeta, AR and PR in the prolapsed cardinal ligaments may suggest a relationship to the process of tissue stretch 'trauma', rather than an effect of the menopausal status, HRT use or cell proliferation. The use of HRT in post-menopausal women appears to offset some of the changes observed with the prolapse.

Adult↗

Epidemiology of pelvic organ prolapse in rural Gambia, West Africa.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse in rural Gambia. DESIGN: Community-based reproductive health survey. POPULATION: 1348 women residing in 20 villages in rural Gambia. METHODS: Health questionnaire and standard gynaecological examination to detect symptoms and signs of pelvic organ prolapse and other reproductive diseases. Association between prolapse, socio-demographic data and other morbidities was examined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence and degree of pelvic organ prolapse. RESULTS: Out of 1067 women consenting to speculum examination 488 (46%) were found to have some degree of prolapse. In 152 women (14%) the prolapse was severe enough to warrant surgical intervention. After adjustment for confounders the likelihood of pelvic organ prolapse increased with parity and age and was higher in women of the Wolof tribe, pregnant women, those with insufficient perineum, and moderately and severely anaemic women. Only 13% of women with moderate or severe prolapse reported symptoms on direct questioning. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic organ prolapse has a high prevalence in this first community-based study of prolapse in West Africa. Many of those affected did not complain about their problem, thus increasing the large, silent burden of reproductive morbidity in this population. Parity was confirmed to be the strongest risk factor followed by age and anaemia. Ethnic origin was a previously unknown risk factor suggesting possible genetic factors in the pathogenesis of prolapse.

Adolescent↗

New intervention in mitral valve prolapse. Use of cold pressor test during echocardiography.

A study was performed in 13 patients with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse and in 21 control subjects to assess the effect of the cold pressor test on systolic motion of the mitral valve. A significant increase in blood pressure occurred in 10 patients with mitral valve prolapse and in 19 controls after immersion of one hand in ice-cold water. M-mode echocardiographic recordings from the mitral valve were obtained in all patients before, during, and after the cold pressor test, together with simultaneous phonocardiograms in selected patients. Nine out of 10 patients with mitral valve prolapse and a hypertensive response to the cold stimulus showed a significant increase in the depth of mitral valve prolapse during the cold pressor test whereas in three patients with mitral valve prolapse and no hypertensive response the depth of mitral valve prolapse did not change during cold stimulation. Three patients with previously demonstrated mitral valve prolapse had equivocal resting echocardiograms but developed diagnostic evidence of mitral valve prolapse during the cold pressor test. No evidence of mitral valve prolapse was seen in any of the control subjects before, during or after the cold pressor test. In four patients with mitral valve prolapse and a hypertensive response to cold stimulation the systolic click was delayed by the cold pressor test, whereas the time of the systolic click remained constant in the three patients whose blood pressure did not increase. It is concluded that the cold pressor test provides a stimulus sufficient to delay the onset and increase the depth of mitral valve prolapse, thereby enhancing the diagnostic sensitivity of echocardiography in this condition.

Adult↗

Rectal prolapse in pediatrics.

Rectal prolapse in pediatrics has its highest incidence in infancy and is uncommonly seen in industrialized countries. The prolapse may involve only the mucosa (mucosal prolapse) or all layers of the rectum (complete prolapse or procidentia). It is usually detected by the child's parents and is brought urgently to medical attention; however, it is usually spontaneously reduced by the time they reach the practitioner's office. Rectal prolapse should be viewed as a symptom of an underlying condition rather than a discrete disease entity. Potential causes are increased intraabdominal pressure, diarrheal and neoplastic diseases, malnutrition, and conditions predisposing to pelvic floor weakness. Its strong association with cystic fibrosis makes the sweat test mandatory for infants and children with recurrent rectal prolapse. Of particular importance are three entities related to rectal prolapse that may easily escape diagnosis by practitioner: occult rectal prolapse, solitary ulcer of the rectum syndrome, and inflammatory cloacogenic polyps. The treatment of rectal prolapse is mainly conservative and is directed at the underlying conditions. Surgical intervention may be required for recurrent rectal prolapse refractory to conservative measures. The simplest, less invasive, yet highly effective approach, appears to be perirectal injection with a sclerosing agent. While the majority of children experience spontaneous resolution of the prolapse, the prognosis is worse when presentation occurs after the age of 4 years.

Child, Preschool↗

[Application of transvaginal sacrospinous colpopexy in the treatment of pelvic organs prolapse].

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of uterovaginal and vaginal vault prolapse appears to be higher due to the increased longevity of women. Sacrospinous ligament colpopexy is a surgery procedure which suspends the vagina up to the sacrospinous ligament and brings upper vagina over the levator plate. This technique is very useful for the primary treatment of uterovaginal prolapse in young women who want to preserve their fertility. The main aim of our study was to present the effectiveness of the us of this technique at our clinic, to investigate the possible intraoperative and postoperative complications of this technique, and to find out its effectiveness in the prevention of repeated vaginal vault prolapse. METHODS: Patients were treated with sacrospinous colpopexy with uterine conservation, vaginal hysterectomy with simultaneous sacrospinous colpopexy or obliteration of the enterocele sac, and sacrospinous colpopexy. Follow-up examinations of the patients we performed at 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after the surgery and yearly thereafter. RESULTS: Thirty-seven women were treated with sacrospinous ligament suspension of vaginal vault. The 5 women had vault prolapse following the hysterectomy (the 3 of then had abdominal, and the 2 vaginal hysterectomy), and another 32 women had the various degrees of uterovaginal prolapse. We obtained satisfactory results in 33 patients, in the 3 we noticed asymptomatic cystocele, and the 1 (2.7%) had partial vaginal vault prolapse six months after the surgery. With regard to postoperative complications, 3 patients had Urination disturbance, 3 patients had urinary tract infection, 2 patients had febrile temperature, and the 2 patients had low back pain. DISCUSSION: We performed sacrospinous fixation on the right side, and the postoperative results demonstrated no disturbance in vaginal axis and vault prolapse except in 1 patient. We had no intraoperative complications noted related to sacrospinous ligament colpopexy, such as the damage to the pudendal vessels and nerve, the sciatic nerve and rectum. The possibility of injury to the vessels and nearby nerves was preventid with the careful placement of suture through the sacrospinous ligament in the two fingerbreadths medial to its insertion in the ischial spine. In our series, we had 3 patients with conservation of the uterus. The 3 asymptomatic cystocele in our series were diagnosed 6 months after the operation. Our results were satisfactory, since we hade only one postoperative vault prolapse (2.7%). CONCLUSION: The results of numerous studies, as well as the results of our study, showed that transvaginal sacrospinous colpopexy could be performed along with vaginal hysterectomy and the anterior and posterior vaginal wall repair in the patients with uterovaginal prolapse because of its high success in the prevention of postoperative vaginal vault prolapse and the low intra- and postoperative complication rates. This operative technique is successful in prevention of repeated vaginal vault prolapse.

Adult↗

Current management of mitral valve prolapse.

Mitral valve prolapse is a pathologic anatomic and physiologic abnormality of the mitral valve apparatus affecting mitral leaflet motion. "Mitral valve prolapse syndrome" is a term often used to describe a constellation of mitral valve prolapse and associated symptoms or other physical abnormalities such as autonomic dysfunction, palpitations and pectus excavatum. The importance of recognizing that mitral valve prolapse may occur as an isolated disorder or with other coincident findings has led to the use of both terms. Mitral valve prolapse syndrome, which occurs in 3 to 6 percent of Americans, is caused by a systolic billowing of one or both mitral leaflets into the left atrium, with or without mitral regurgitation. It is often discovered during routine cardiac auscultation or when echocardiography is performed for another reason. Most patients with mitral valve prolapse are asymptomatic. Those who have symptoms commonly report chest discomfort, anxiety, fatigue and dyspnea, but whether these are actually due to mitral valve prolapse is not certain. The principal physical finding is a midsystolic click, which frequently is followed by a late systolic murmur. Although echocardiography is the most useful mode for identifying mitral valve prolapse, it is not recommended as a screening tool for mitral valve prolapse in patients who have no systolic click or murmur on careful auscultation. Mitral valve prolapse has a benign prognosis and a complication rate of 2 percent per year. The progression of mitral regurgitation may cause dilation of the left-sided heart chambers. Infective endocarditis is a potential complication. Patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome who have murmurs and/or thickened redundant leaflets seen on echocardiography should receive antibiotic prophylaxis against endocarditis.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Risk factors for genital prolapse in non-hysterectomized women around menopause. Results from a large cross-sectional study in menopausal clinics in Italy. Progetto Menopausa Italia Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze determinants/risk factors for uterine prolapse in a population of women around menopause. METHODS: Between 1997 and 1999, we conducted a large cross sectional study on the characteristics of women around menopause attending a network of first level outpatients menopause clinics in Italy for general counselling about menopause or treatment of menopausal symptoms. Eligible for the study were women consecutively observed during the study period. All women underwent a gynecological examination. RESULTS: Considering the 21,449 non-hysterectomized women, uterine prolapse was diagnosed in 1182 cases (5.5%). Of those, 772 (65.3%) had prolapse degree I and 410 (34.7%) degree II or III. The frequency of uterine prolapse increases with age: In comparison with women aged < or = 51 years, the odds ratio OR of uterine prolapse was 1.3 and 1.7 respectively for women aged 52-55 and > or = 56 years. In comparison with women with none/primary education, the OR of uterine prolapse was 0.8 (95% confidential interval CI 0.7-0.9) and 0.8 (95% CI 0.6-0.9), respectively, for women with intermediate or high school/university degree. The risk of uterine prolapse increased with body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2)) value: In comparison with women with BMI<23.8, the OR was 1.4 (95% CI 1.2-1.7) and 1.6 (95% CI 1.3-1.9) for women with BMI 23.8-27.2 and >27.2. In comparison with nulliparae, the OR of uterine prolapse increased with number of births, being 3.0 (95% CI 2.1-4.3) in women reporting > or = 3 births. A history of caesarean section or of a delivery of a fetus weighing >4500 g were not associated with increased risk of uterine prolapse. When the analysis was conducted separately in strata of grade of uterine prolapse (I and > or = II), no marked differences emerged in the OR estimates. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that, in this population, the risk of uterovaginal prolapse increase with the number of vaginal births and was higher in overweight women, offering some quantitative estimates of the role of these factors on the risk of the condition.

Age Factors↗

[Prolapse after hysterectomy. A study of 45 cases (author's transl)].

The authors report 45 cases of prolapse occurring after hysterectomy (26 after subtotal hysterectomy, 9 after total abdominal hysterectomy and 10 after total vaginal hysterectomy). These prolapses are rare and their incidence does not seem to vary with the type of hysterectomy that preceded them. although in some cases hysterectomy could be incriminated as the cause of the prolapse, in the majority of cases the reason was a prolapse that had been neglected when the hysterectomy had been carried out, or a prolapse that appeared a long time after hysterectomy because of the inevitable ageing of the supporting tissues of the pelvis. From the anatomical point of view it is important to distinguish those prolapses where the vaginal vault does not descend and those where there is total descent including the vault of the vagina. The prolapses give rise to difficult problems of therapy. The choice of operation has to take into account anatomical components of the prolapse, the functional repercussions, the urinary symptoms and whether the patient wishes to does not wish to continue sexual activity. If it is not necessary to keep the vagina open an operation that involves colpectomy or colpocervicectomy can give rise to very good anatomical and urinary results. When it is necessary to keep the vagina functioning as a vagina in the case of prolapse after subtotal hysterectomy, it is important to treat the case as though on was dealing with an ordinary prolapse. All the same, when dealing with procidentia it may be wiser to add a colpopexy procedure by the abdominal route. When dealing with a prolapse after total hysterectomy when the vaginal vault is in place, it is sufficient to carry out the usual form of perineal plastic operation general;y to obtain a good result, but when the vaginal vault has come down it is as well to carry out a colpopexy procedure by the abdominal route.

Adult↗

Conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse in women.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic organ prolapse is common, and some degree of prolapse is seen in 50% of parous women. Women with prolapse can experience a variety of pelvic floor symptoms. Treatments include surgery, mechanical devices and conservative management. Conservative management approaches, such as giving lifestyle advice and delivering pelvic floor muscle training, are often used in cases of mild to moderate prolapse. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of conservative management (physical interventions and lifestyle interventions) for women with pelvic organ prolapse in comparison with no treatment or other treatment options (such as mechanical devices or surgery). SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Trials Register (searched on 19 September 2005), MEDLINE (January 1966 to August 2005), MEDLINE In Process & Other Citations (15 September 2005), EMBASE (January 1996 to Week 43 2005), CINAHL (January 1982 to October 2005), PEDro (September 2005), the UK National Research Register (Issue 3, 2005), the US National Institute of Health clinical trial register (5 October 2005), Current Controlled Trials register (5 October 2005), Controlled Clinical Trials (September 2005) and ZETOC (September 2005). We searched the reference lists of relevant articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials in women with pelvic organ prolapse that included a physical or lifestyle intervention in at least one arm of the trial. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers assessed all trials for inclusion/exclusion and methodological quality. Data were extracted by the lead reviewer onto a standard form and cross checked by another. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. Data were processed as described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. MAIN RESULTS: Three trials of relevance to this review were identified. The largest of these, of pelvic floor muscle training in preventing anterior prolapse from worsening, had significant limitations which affect the generalisability and rigor of the findings. A small feasibility study (which is to be followed up with a larger trial) randomised 47 women to pelvic floor muscle training or control and found suggestions of better outcomes (better self-reported improvement, decreased severity) in the intervention group. The third trial evaluated peri-operative physiotherapy for women undergoing surgery for prolapse and/or incontinence. The authors report that urinary symptoms, pelvic floor muscle function and quality of life were improved more in the treatment group than the control group, but data were not provided to allow this to be assessed. The trial was small and no prolapse-specific outcome measures were used. It was not possible to combine data from the three trials. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Despite there now being reports of three eligible trials in this update, the evidence available is not significant to guide practice. There is some encouragement from a feasibility study that pelvic floor muscle training, delivered by a physiotherapist to symptomatic women in an outpatient setting, may reduce severity of prolapse. Further evidence from larger, better quality randomised control trials is however still necessary.

Adult↗

Mitral valve prolapse in children: a problem defined by real-time cross-sectional echocardiography.

The cross-sectional echocardiographic features of mitral valve prolapse were defined in 26 children (ages 2-18 years) using a real-time, multiple-crystal ultrasound scanner. In each patient the physical findings of the mitral valve click-murmur syndrome were present and mitral valve prolapse had been diagnosed previously by conventional single crystal echocardiography. Mitral prolapse occurred in a familial setting in eight patients and was associated with the Marfan syndrome in five. Real-time two-dimensional echocardiography uniformly disclosed maximum mitral arching and the superior-posterior prolapse. These visual observations were confirmed by M-mode recordings derived from single elements within the array of 20 crystals. The method allowed a complete M-mode description of the phasic motion of the entire mitral apparatus and observations of the spectrum of prolapse from discrete late systolic prolapse to "hammock-like" holosystolic prolapse. Further, the recording of multiple systolic M-mode lines occurred when the ultrasound beam intersected the arched leaflets more than once. Pseudosystolic anterior motion was observed often and resulted clearly from a superimposition of echoes from the mitral annulus and from the posterior-superiorly arched prolapsed leaflets. A major finding in 22 patients was the association with prolapse of biconvex enlargement of the aortic sinuses of Valsalva and a significant increase in the diameter of the aortic root. Aortic root dilatation was most marked in, but not confined to, patients with the Marfan syndrome and was a prominent finding in six patients with minor musculoskeletal abnormalities. The presence of aortic root dilatation in children with normal body habitus raises important questions concerning the generalized nature of an abnormality of cardiac connective tissue in patients with mitral prolapse. The cross-sectional approach significantly enhances the noninvasive evaluation of mitral valve prolapse and provides an explanation for many of the single crystal observations reported previously.

Adolescent↗

Lumbosacral spine and pelvic inlet changes associated with pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between advanced pelvic organ prolapse and changes in lumbar lordosis and/or pelvic inlet orientation. METHODS: Lateral lumbosacral spine/pelvic x-rays were taken of women with grade 2 or greater uterovaginal prolapse and women with grade 1 or less prolapse standing in their usual upright posture. The angles of lumbar lordosis and the pelvic inlet were measured by a radiologist who was masked to the pelvic examination findings. RESULTS: Twenty women with prolapse were matched with 20 women without significant prolapse. There were no significant differences in the mean (+/- standard deviation [SDI) age (55.3 +/- 9.0 years compared with 53.4 +/- 9.5 years), body mass index (BMI) (28.9 +/- 5.6 compared with 28.4 +/- 5.2), gravidity (5.6 +/- 3.5 compared with 5.0 +/- 2.7), and vaginal parity (4.65 +/- 3.3 compared with 4.5 +/- 2.9) between the prolapse and nonprolapse groups, respectively. All participants were vaginally parous. The mean lumbar lordotic angle in women with pelvic organ prolapse (32.0 degrees +/- 9.8 degrees) was significantly lower than that of controls (42.4 degrees +/- 10.9 degrees) (P < .003). The mean angle of the pelvic inlet in women with pelvic organ prolapse (37.5 degrees +/- 7.0 degrees) was significantly larger than that of controls (29.5 degrees +/- 7.3 degrees) (P < .001). The differences in the mean angles of lumbar lordosis and the pelvic inlet, between the case and control groups, remained significant after multivariable logistic regression was performed. CONCLUSION: Women with advanced uterovaginal prolapse have less lumbar lordosis and a pelvic inlet that is oriented less vertically than women without prolapse.

Female↗

Grading pelvic prolapse and pelvic floor relaxation using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: With significant vaginal prolapse, it is often difficult to differentiate among cystocele, enterocele, and high rectocele by physical examination alone. Our group has previously demonstrated the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluating pelvic prolapse. We describe a simple objective grading system for quantifying pelvic floor relaxation and prolapse. METHODS: One hundred sixty-four consecutive women presenting with pelvic pain (n = 39) or organ prolapse (n = 125) underwent dynamic MRI. The "H-line" (levator hiatus) measures the distance from the pubis to the posterior anal canal. The "M-line" (muscular pelvic floor relaxation) measures the descent of the levator plate from the pubococcygeal line. The "O" classification (organ prolapse) characterizes the degree of visceral prolapse beyond the H-line. RESULTS: The image acquisition time was 2.5 minutes per study. Each study cost $540. In the pain group, the H-line averaged 5.2 +/- 1.1 cm versus 7.5 +/- 1.5 cm in the prolapse group (P <0.001). The M-line averaged 1.9 +/- 1.2 cm in the pain group versus 4.1 +/- 1.5 cm in the prolapse group (P <0.001). Incidental pelvic pathologic features were commonly noted, including uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, hydroureter, urethral diverticula, and foreign body. CONCLUSIONS: The HMO classification provides a straightforward and reproducible method for staging and quantifying pelvic floor relaxation and visceral prolapse. Dynamic MRI requires no patient preparation and is ideal for the objective evaluation and follow-up of patients with pelvic prolapse and pelvic floor relaxation. MRI obviates the need for cystourethrography, pelvic ultrasound, or intravenous urography and has become the study of choice at our institution for evaluating the female pelvis.

Female↗

Two dimensional echocardiography and the tricuspid valve. Leaflet definition and prolapse.

The tricuspid valve was studied in 143 subjects using two dimensional echocardiography. The groups studied were 40 normal subjects, 31 patients with mitral valve prolapse, 22 with clinically probable tricuspid valve prolapse, 20 with congestive cardiac failure, and 30 with miscellaneous cardiac conditions but no features of right heart disease. Using multiple views it was possible to record all three leaflets in 74.8% of cases and anterior and septal leaflets in 95%. Prolapse of the tricuspid valve was recognised in 13 patients: six (19.5%) of the group with mitral valve prolapse and seven (6%) of the remaining patients. Prolapse of all three leaflets was shown in one patient, anterior and septal prolapse in six patients, anterior and posterior in three patients, septal leaflet prolapse alone in two patients, and anterior alone in one patient. Two dimensional echocardiography allows definition of individual tricuspid leaflets and prolapse of any or all leaflets can be diagnosed. Tricuspid valve prolapse is commonly associated with prolapse of mitral valve leaflets but isolated cases are recognised.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence and clinical significance of aortic valve prolapse.

The prevalence and clinical significance of aortic valve prolapse were determined prospectively in 2000 consecutive patients undergoing routine clinical cross sectional echocardiography. Two hundred and twelve patients were excluded because the aortic cusps were not adequately visualised. Aortic valve prolapse was defined as downward displacement of cuspal material below a line joining the points of attachment of the aortic valve leaflets. Twenty four cases of aortic valve prolapse (1.2%) were identified. The patients were aged 12-64 years and nine were women. All had underlying valvar heart disease and the commonest lesion (in 11 cases) was prolapse of the larger cusp in bicuspid valves. Aortic valve prolapse was seen in four patients with mitral valve prolapse (two with severe regurgitation), one of whom had marfanoid aortic root dilatation. The remaining examples of aortic prolapse were seen in patients with various disorders including one with pulmonary atresia, two with aortic root disease (one with dissection and one with idiopathic dilatation), and one case of severe mitral regurgitation. Valves destroyed by infective endocarditis were seen in two cases. Aortic valve prolapse may be detected in various cardiac disorders and does not imply the presence of aortic regurgitation, but when bicuspid aortic valves are present it may well be important in producing such regurgitation. Although aortic valve prolapse may be associated with severe forms of mitral valve prolapse, these patients rarely have aortic regurgitation.

Adolescent↗

Occurrence and significance of echocardiographically demonstrated tricuspid valve prolapse.

Echocardiograms from 562 patients were examined for evidence of the pattern of tricuspid valve prolapse. Criteria for the diagnosis can be established similar to those applicable to mitral prolapse. In 500 consecutive patients without mitral valve prolapse, there were no cases of isolated tricuspid valve prolapse. Eleven of 53 (21%) patients with mitral valve prolapse also had tricuspid valve prolapse. Four of six (67%) patients with Marfan's syndrome and mitral valve prolapse also had tricuspid valve prolapse. The occurrence of this echocardiographic pattern as an isolated finding as well as associated with mitral valve prolapse was significantly less than previous angiographic reports. Patients with both these findings tended to be older than those with mitral valve prolapse alone, but clinically differed in no other way. Use of standardized technique can minimize errors in diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Mitral valve prolapse and hyperthyroidism: effect of patient selection.

Patients with mitral valve prolapse and hyperthyroidism have common symptoms; the most outstanding symptom is palpitation. To determine whether or not common symptoms contributed to the reported association of these conditions, we evaluated 220 patients with symptomatic mitral valve prolapse and 216 first-degree relatives in 72 families; 65 relatives with mitral valve prolapse and 151 relatives without mitral valve prolapse, all greater than or equal to 16 years of age. Thirty subjects, aged 49 +/- 13 years (p less than 0.025 vs entire study group), had thyroid disease (23 subjects had definite thyroid disease, seven subjects had probable); 27 of 30 subjects with thyroid disease (90%) were female (p less than 0.005). The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of hyperthyroidism was significantly higher in probands with mitral valve prolapse than in family members without mitral valve prolapse (3.5% vs 0%, p = 0.03), while an intermediate prevalence of hyperthyroidism (2.2%) was observed in family members with mitral valve prolapse. Thus, the prevalence of hyperthyroidism is increased among symptomatic patients with mitral valve prolapse as compared to family members without mitral valve prolapse, but the prevalence of thyroid conditions is similar among family members with or without this condition. These findings are explained by the effect of common symptoms on clinical detection of both mitral valve prolapse and hyperthyroidism.

Adolescent↗

Cardiac function during rest and exercise in patients with mitral valve prolapse. Role of radionuclear angiocardiography.

The clinical features of mitral valve prolapse syndrome and ischemic coronary disease overlap, making differentiation of the two conditions difficult. Furthermore, many patients have both conditions. This study assessed changes in ventricular function during rest and exercise in patients with mitral valve prolapse alone and in patients with prolapse and concomitant coronary artery disease. Twelve patients with angiographically documented mitral valve prolapse and normal coronary anatomy and 11 patients with normal coronary anatomy and no mitral valve prolapse had increased ejection fraction and demonstrated no wall motion abnormality during exercise. Changes in ventricular function during exercise in 11 additional patients with mitral valve prolapse demonstrated on echocardiography were similar to those in the group with mitral valve prolapse and normal coronary anatomy seen on angiography. In contrast, 6 of 11 patients with mitral valve prolapse and coronary arterial stenosis demonstrated on angiography had a decreased ejection fraction and exhibited wall motion abnormalities during exercise. These results suggest that mitral valve prolapse alone has no detrimental effect on ventricular function during rest and exercise and that exercise-induced abnormalities in ventricular function are related to the presence and severity of coronary artery disease and not to mitral valve prolapse.

Adult↗