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[Barlow's disease and risk for life]
Archives Des Maladies Du Coeur Et Des Vaisseaux
|February 1, 1988
Summary
Idiopathic mitral valve prolapse affects 5% of the population. High-risk individuals with thickened mitral leaflets can be identified via echocardiography, enabling early intervention for serious complications like sudden death.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Valvular Heart Disease
Context:
- Idiopathic mitral valve prolapse (Barlow's disease) affects approximately 5% of the general population.
- While typically benign, it can lead to life-threatening complications in a small subset of patients.
Purpose:
- To identify high-risk individuals with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse.
- To outline potential serious complications and management strategies for affected patients.
Summary:
- TM-mode echocardiography can detect mitral leaflet thickening (≥5 mm), indicating high risk.
- Complications include sudden death (rare, in younger women with family history, syncope, dysrhythmias), infective endocarditis (10-20% mortality), and cerebral vascular accidents.
- Management involves clinical supervision, ECG monitoring, electrophysiological/hemodynamic studies, beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics, and potentially defibrillator implantation.
Impact:
- Early detection of high-risk patients through echocardiography.
- Improved understanding of risk factors and clinical presentation of severe mitral valve prolapse complications.
- Guidance on monitoring and treatment strategies for patients with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse.