Isolated prolapse of the tricuspid valve.

Tricuspid valve prolapse has remained a poorly defined entity. Some authors have stated that prolapse isolated to the tricuspid valve has not been documented. This report contains three cases of isolated tricuspid valve prolapse including the first pathologically confirmed case. A review of worldwide literature including all reported cases of isolated tricuspid valve prolapse is also presented. Although signs and symptoms are similar to those found with mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid valve prolapse may occasionally be differentiated by auscultation. The diagnostic criteria of tricuspid valve prolapse are thoroughly discussed for each of the presently available invasive and noninvasive techniques. Right heart catheterization can define such prolapse but is invasive and requires meticulous technique. Two-dimensional echocardiography supersedes M-mode because of the superior spatial evaluation of the tricuspid leaflets in relation to the right atrium and ventricle. Multiple views including a long-axis view of the right ventricular inflow are often required. This parasternal echocardiographic window is often the only one which permits adequate visualization of the posterior leaflet. The pathologic findings of tricuspid valve prolapse are similar to those of mitral valve prolapse. This report concludes with a description of associated conditions. Severe tricuspid regurgitation has not been noted with tricuspid valve prolapse in the absence of superimposed disease, yet much remains undefined concerning the clinical significance of this condition.

Left ventricular mural thrombi complicating acute myocardial infarction. Long-term follow-up with serial echocardiography.

To determine the clinical significance of left ventricular thrombi, we used two-dimensional echocardiography to study 261 patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction. Mural thrombi were found in 46 patients. This complication occurred in 34% (44 of 130) of anterior wall infarctions but in only 1.5% (2 of 131) of inferior wall infarctions. An apical wall motion abnormality was present in all patients with thrombus. Severe depression of left ventricular function was not a prerequisite for thrombus formation: the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 37 +/- 1.5%. Forty-three patients with left ventricular thrombi were followed for a mean duration of 15 months with serial echocardiography. None of the 25 patients who received anticoagulation treatment had an embolic event. Embolization occurred in 7 of 18 patients who had not received anticoagulation treatment. All embolic events occurred within 4 months of infarction. Although anticoagulation treatment appeared to provide protection against embolic events, the prevalence of left ventricular thrombi on follow-up echocardiographic study was essentially the same whether or not this treatment was used.

Noninvasive assessment of coronary artery disease.

This study determines whether a mathematical model can be used to assess noninvasively the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). The model was based on stepwise multivariate discriminant analysis of data obtained in 99 patients from clinical and nonhemodynamic exercise variables, or from radionuclide determination of left ventricular function at rest or during exercise, or both. The extent of CAD was assessed by a scoring system and by the number of diseased vessels. The variables selected by this method (Q-wave infarction, exercise LV ejection fraction, change in systolic blood pressure from rest to exercise, sex and diabetes mellitus) yielded a predictive accuracy of 82% for the identification of patients with extensive CAD (score greater than or equal to 35). Slightly better results were achieved by a subgroup of 77 patients who had adequate exercise end points (exercise heart rate greater than or equal to 120 beats/min, or angina or ST depression during exercise). In these patients, the predictive accuracy was 84%. The model also identified patients with "light" CAD (score less than or equal to 10) with a predictive accuracy of 82%. Thus, noninvasive assessment of the extent of CAD is possible with a stepwise multivariate discriminant analysis of clinical, electrocardiographic and left ventricular function assessed by radionuclide ventriculography at rest and during exercise. The scoring system was superior to the conventional method of classifying patients according to the number of diseased vessels.