Floppy mitral valves in elderly patients: clinical features and associated echocardiographic findings.
The clinical features and echocardiographic findings of a series of elderly patients with floppy mitral valves are presented. Palpitation was a common presenting complaint and 50% of patients had significant arrhythmias documented. Chest-wall deformity or Marfanoid habitus were common clinical findings. Seventy-nine per cent of patients had associated myxomatous degeneration of the aortic valve. The high incidence of arrhythmias in the series gives cause for concern since all required anti-arrhythmic therapy. The identification of these patients is therefore of practical importance.
Taylor
J
J
Monklands District General Hospital, Airdrie.
Rodger
J C
JC
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001023:Aortic Valve Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology