Isolated acquired pulmonary valve regurgitation. Report of long-term follow-up.
A patient is reported with isolated pulmonary valvular regurgitation acquired probably as a result of endocarditis at age 22 years. The patents remained essentially asymptomatic with physical findings compatible with haemodynamically significant pulmonary regurgitation until death at age 85 years. A necropsy confirmed the presence of isolated severe pulmonary valvular destruction. This long-term follow-up lends further support to the concept that significant volume overload of the right ventricle from pulmonary regurgitation is well tolerated and usually does not require surgical intervention.
D000328:Adult; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011665:Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology