title: Pathological changes in spontaneous rupture of chordae tendineae.
abstract: Eight patients with spontaneous rupture of mitral chordae tendineae have been studied. In no case was there a predisposing cause. Seven showed pathological fibrosis of the papillary muscle relevant to the ruptured chordae. It is postulated that papillary msucle dysfunction secondary to fibrosis may cause stretching of chordae and subsequent rupture. Five patients had mucoid degeneration of their mitral valves. Mucoid change appeared to develop only when the clinical history indicated a lengthy period of valvular dysfunction.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous