study of autonomic functions in patients with mitral valve prolapse

ABSTRACT

This work was performed to evaluate autonomic functions by cardiovascular reflexes among patients with mitral valve prolapse [MVP]. It comprised 45 patients [16 males and 29 females] with MVP diagnosed on clinical and echocardiographic basis. Twenty-three normal individuals [7 males and 16 females] with matched sex, age, weight, height and body mass index were taken as a control group. Abnormal autonomic functions had been observed in the MVP patients in the form of parasympathetic dysfunction and inappropriate [imbalance] sympathetic response to different stress in the form of hyperactive early response and hypoactive response on sustained stress and this autonomic imbalance was not related to age or sex but could be related to the severity of MVP. The degree of autonomic affection [quantitative defect] was related to the presence of symptoms among the studied MVP patients. The symptomatology of MVP was not related to sex, severity of MVP, but it was related to the younger age group