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Mitral valve chordal rupture masquerades as endocarditis
C W Baird1, C Constantinos, E Lansford
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3705 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. cbaird@sanger-clinic.com
Pediatric Cardiology
|June 15, 2007
Summary
Spontaneous mitral valve chordal rupture is rare in children. This case highlights a 9-year-old boy with mitral valve prolapse who experienced this event without trauma or infection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Mitral valve chordal rupture typically results from trauma or endocarditis.
- Pediatric cases of spontaneous mitral valve chordal rupture are exceptionally uncommon in medical literature.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old male patient with a known history of mitral valve prolapse presented with acute symptoms.
- The patient had no identifiable inciting event, such as trauma or infective endocarditis.
Findings:
- The diagnostic workup confirmed spontaneous mitral valve chordal rupture.
- Echocardiography revealed the extent of the chordal damage and its impact on mitral valve function.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of potential etiologies for mitral valve chordal rupture in pediatric populations.
- It underscores the importance of considering spontaneous rupture even in the absence of typical risk factors.
- Further research may elucidate underlying mechanisms contributing to spontaneous chordal rupture in children with pre-existing valve abnormalities.
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