Mitral valve billow and prolapse: a brief review at 45 years - with reference to : mitral valve billowing and prolapse : perspective at 25 years.

Barlow's syndrome has become a regular, often-used and very often misused diagnosis. Its description followed extensive, prolonged and detailed clinical observation by JB Barlow and his co-workers. This major research effort was necessary because of the protean manifestations of the condition. The differentiation of Barlow's syndrome from other conditions with similar and sometimes identical symptoms requires clear and unambiguous criteria. These criteria were identified by penetrative clinical research. Consequently, it became possible to diagnose Barlow's syndrome with a high degree of specificity. Almost equally important were the gains made in understanding various conditions with similar symptoms but totally different management. An example of which, understanding some of the electrocardiographic patterns that emerge on effort in patients with ischaemic heart disease. Similarly, understanding mitral valve billow led to a greater knowledge of the entire pathophysiology of the mitral valve closure and important aspects of mitral regurgitation. Primary mitral valve billow, Barlow's syndrome, resulted from clinical research of the highest quality and has had a major application in clinical medicine.

Mitral valve prolapse: now you see it; now you don't: recalling the discovery, rise and decline of a diagnosis.

Mitral valve prolapse has been recognized as a clinical entity for only the past 50 years, although the auscultatory findings of this condition had been recognized since the mid-19th century. On the evidence of only a few autopsies, it was concluded that the basis for these were pleuropericardial adhesions. Left ventricular angiographic studies performed in the 1960s clearly documented the true nature of the condition, although it was not until the advent of echocardiography that large numbers of patients began to be referred for evaluation by this new technique. Because of the wide variety of symptoms in patients with suspected mitral valve prolapse, similar to those with other conditions, many patients with the latter were referred for evaluation and diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse because of misleading M-mode and then 2-dimensional criteria. It is now recognized, with the use of improved, more restrictive echocardiographic criteria, that the prevalence of the disorder is much less than previously believed. No test has been devised that will prove 100% sensitive and 100% specific for any disorder. In conclusion, this sobering fact should encourage the use of all modalities available, including clinical skills, to make proper diagnoses when these may be in doubt.

John Barlow: mitral valve prolapse.

Although the systolic click was first mentioned in the medical literature in 1887, it was not until the investigations of John Barlow and his colleagues in the 1960s that it became linked to the mitral valve and mitral valve prolapse identified as the cause. Mitral valve prolapse is currently the most commonly diagnosed cardiac valvular abnormality. Significant complications may occur with mitral valve prolapse, though most patients are asymptomatic. However, a number of issues persist regarding mitral valve prolapse, especially with respect to the mitral valve prolapse syndrome, a term which has been applied to patients who develop a variety of symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, lightheadedness, syncope, palpitations, anxiety, and panic attacks.

[Syndrome of mitral valve prolapse: past, present and prospects].

A short history of mitral valve prolapse was reviewed to learn what was the knowledge we have and to recognize what should be resolved at the present time and in the near future. Particular emphasis was placed on the detailed studies performed in Japan as compared to those of occidental countries. Prevalence of mitral valve prolapse largely depends on the methods of investigation and is definitely related to the diagnostic criteria. Among those, the echocardiographic criteria are particularly important, but there are pitfalls which cause over- or underdiagnosis. Auscultatory criteria, which should be confirmed by phonocardiography, are not sensitive enough because of the presence of "silent" prolapse, though the auscultatory acumen of the averaged doctors is quite often unexpected. DaCosta syndrome and the related conditions have some connections with mitral valve prolapse syndrome. The relation should extensively be studied, because somatic and mental signs are not conclusively related to the anatomical abnormalities and the cases with borderline prolapse tend to have definite signs and symptoms. Natural course of mitral valve prolapse based on the long follow-up study is far from the conclusion. So far, no comprehensive cases with well-known natural history of this entity. Prognosis should be carefully evaluated, because most of the patients are doing well and several ominous prognostic signs, such as sudden deaths, are thought to be overemphasized.

The mitral valve prolapse syndrome.

In clinical perception, the syndrome has evolved from a neuropsychiatric disorder to a medical disease with an anatomic basis. Still unanswered is whether the autonomic and adrenergic dysfunctions that occur in some patients are an intrinsic part of the syndrome or of an unrelated anxiety neurosis. Pending clarification, both medical and psychological aspects require attention.