Autonomic function, anxiety and mitral valve prolapse

ABSTRACT

This study included 20 patients with mitral valve prolapse [10 symptomatic and 10 asymptomatic]. They were compared with 10 patients with anxiety and 10 normal subjects. AH individuals were subjected to autonomic function tests, anxiety score and two dimensional echocardiogram. There were significant difference in heart rate response to deep breathing between normal subjects and other groups. While no significant difference in Valsalva was noted between the different groups. There were significant changes in diastolic blood pressure response to sustained hand grip between normal subjects and other groups. While there was no significant change in systolic or diastolic pressure on standing between different groups Patients with mitral valve prolapse [symptomatic and asymptomatic] had significant higher anxiety score than that ot normal subjects and significant lower score than those with anxiety. Symptomatic patients with MVP has no significant difference as compared to patients with anxiety, while asymptomaic patients had lower score. We noticed that autonomic dysfunction are present in patients with MVP regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms, as well as in patients with anxiety