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.