[Current treatments of congestive heart failure]. / Traitements actuels de l'insuffisance cardiaque par dysfonction systolique.

Mortality in patients with congestive heart failure has been assessed in several large scale multicentric studies, confirming the therapeutic effect of certain treatments and raising questions as to the efficacy of other, sometimes new propositions. Conversion enzyme inhibitors are currently considered to be the first line treatment for heart failure because of their beneficial effect on mortality figures and their capacity to prevent aggravation. These drugs should always be prescribed for patients without contraindications, together with diuretics when signs of congestion develop, and digitalis in case of non-response, then finally nitroglycerin. Debate is still open on the effect of beta-blockers and amiodarone which should be reserved for use by specialists since it has not been definitely proven that they can lengthen survival time. Certain other drugs have given disappointing results compared with early expectations: direct vasodilators, positive inotrops (with the possible exception of vesnarinone), and class Ic antiarrhythmics. Finally several drugs in the development or research stage may prove to be effective in improving heart function, intermediary criteria and, most importantly, survival.

Diagnostic and therapeutic implications of transesophageal echocardiography in medical ICU patients with unexplained shock, hypoxemia, or suspected endocarditis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in intensive care patients. DESIGN: Comparative study. SETTING: A 10-bed general intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Between 1 January 1992 and 31 May 1993, 61 patients prospectively identified with shock (n = 14), severe, unexplained hypoxemia (Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood/fractional inspired oxygen < 200) (n = 31), or suspected endocarditis (n = 16) underwent a TEE examination to supplement transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) examination. INTERVENTIONS: The results of each TEE examination were compared with the clinical findings and TTE data. TEE examinations were classified as follows: 0, TEE results were similar to TTE results; 00, TEE examination resulted in exclusion of suspected abnormalities; 1, TEE revealed a new but minor diagnosis compared to the TTE diagnosis; 2, TEE revealed a new major diagnosis not requiring a change of treatment; 3, TEE results revealed a new major diagnosis requiring an immediate change of treatment. RESULTS: Intraobserver reliability of the TEE classification was confirmed by a 100% concordance and interobserver reliability was evaluated as an 84% concordance. Results of the TEE classification were: class 0, n = 21 (34%); class 00, n = 13 (21%); class 1, n = 7 (12%); class 2, n = 8 (13%); class 3, n = 12 (20%). Therapeutic implications of TEE in class 3 patients were cardiac surgery in 5 patients (2 cases of acute mitral regurgitation, 2 valvular abscesses, and 1 hematoma compressing the left atrium), discontinuation of positive end-expiratory pressure in 1 ventilated patient with an atrial septal defect, weaning off mechanical ventilation in 1 patient with an atrial septal defect, prescription of antimicrobial therapy in 3 patients with endocarditis, and prescription of anticoagulant therapy in 2 patients with left atrial thrombus. No difficulty inserting the transducer was observed in any of the 61 patients studied. The only noteworthy complication was a case of spontaneously resolving atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION: TEE is safe and well tolerated and is useful in the management of patients in the intensive care unit with shock, unexplained and severe hypoxemia, or suspected endocarditis when TTE is inconclusive.

Carotid arterial hemodynamics in response to LBNP in normal subjects: methodological aspects.

Pulsatile changes in blood pressure and arterial diameter were studied noninvasively with applanation tonometry and echo-tracking techniques at the sites of the common carotid artery (CCA) and the carotid arterial bulb (CAB) in 12 healthy volunteers. Determinations were performed before and during application of -10 and -40 mmHg lower body negative pressure (LBNP) to investigate noninvasively the tensile forces acting on the CAB. Together with significantly decreased mean arterial pressure, increased heart rate, forearm vascular resistance, and plasma norepinephrine, the -40 mmHg LBNP stimulus produced the following significant changes in CCA and CAB hemodynamics: 1) for the same decrease in mean arterial pressure, a greater decrease in carotid than in brachial pulse pressure was observed (P < 0.01) due to a significant change in pressure wave transmission and in the timing of the carotid backward pressure wave; and 2) a highly significant decrease in pulsatile changes in diameter and tangential tension occurred, with a greater decrease in systolic than in diastolic tangential tension. Subsequently, cyclic tangential tension decreased more substantially than mean tangential tension. The cyclic changes in tension were quite significant after -40 mmHg LBNP but were already observed for mild -10 mmHg LBNP in which mean systemic blood pressure and heart rate were not modified. During -10 and -40 mmHg LBNP, CCA and CAB compliance and distensibility were unchanged. This study provides evidence that the autonomic nervous system activation produced by the LBNP procedure is associated with significant changes in pressure-wave amplification and in cyclic tensile forces acting on the CAB. These changes, which may occur even for mild LBNP, should be taken into account when interpreting results of the LBNP procedure in humans.

Nosocomial acquisition of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii: risk factors and prognosis.

To identify risk factors for and prognostic indicators of the nosocomial acquisition of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii in an intensive care unit, we prospectively studied 40 patients: 13 who were infected with this organism and 27 who were colonized. Isolates were identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; the infected/colonized patients were compared with 348 noninfected, noncolonized patients by logistic regression analysis and with matched historical controls in a cohort study. The severity of illness (evaluated by the APACHE II score; P < .05) and previous infection (P < .001) were retained as independent risk factors for acquiring A. baumannii. Logistic regression analysis selected a high APACHE II score (P < .01) and the acquisition of A. baumannii (P < .01) as factors independently associated with death. The acquisition of A. baumannii was associated not only with high mortality but also with a length of stay on the intensive care unit in excess of that due to the underlying disease alone; specifically, the attributable mortality was 25%, with a risk ratio for death of 2.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.11-3.62), and the duration of stay for infected/colonized patients was 10.3 days longer than that for controls (P < .001).

Carotid arterial haemodynamics after mild degrees of lower-body negative pressure in man.

1. Pulsatile changes in the diameter of the common carotid artery were studied transcutaneously using an echo-tracking technique in 15 normal subjects: eight subjects before and during application of graded lower-body negative pressure from -5 to -15 mmHg, and seven subjects before and during weight-bearing head-up tilt at 30 and 60 degrees. 2. In concomitant studies of changes in forearm vascular resistance, it was seen that mild lower-body negative pressure produced deactivation of cardiopulmonary receptors without changes in systemic blood pressure or heart rate. 3. After lower-body negative pressure, a significant decrease in carotid arterial diastolic diameter [from 0.662 +/- 0.028 to 0.624 +/- 0.033 cm (lower-body negative pressure -10 mmHg) and 0.640 +/- 0.030 cm lower-body negative pressure -15 mmHg), P < 0.001 and < 0.05] was observed. 4. After head-up tilt, carotid arterial diameter was also significantly decreased at 30 and 60 degrees, whereas a significant increase in heart rate occurred only at 60 degrees and mean blood pressure did not change. 5. The study provides evidence that the geometry of the arterial wall is substantially modified by non-invasive manoeuvres such as head-up tilting and lower-body negative pressure. The latter is assumed to selectively deactivate human cardiopulmonary receptors, but the present data suggest that local changes may also influence carotid baroreceptors.

[Non-invasive methods in the study of the elastic properties of the thoracic aorta. Effect of isosorbide dinitrate]. / Etude des méthodes non invasives d'exploration des propriétés élastiques de l'aorte thoracique. Effet du dinitrate d'isosorbide.

The role of the great arteries is to distribute and stock blood. Pulsatile discontinuous flow is transformed to a continuous flow system. The elastic properties of the aorta play a major role in these functions. It is generally agreed that changes in these elastic properties may lead to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy. The evaluation of the aorta has, until recently, depended on invasive hemodynamic and angiographic techniques. In addition, the measurement of pulse wave velocity, though useful, is a global and only an approximate method. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) enables accurate measurement of the aortic diameter and its systolo-diastolic variations. The accuracy of these measurements has been validated in vitro and the reproducibility is much better than with previously used techniques. Previous studies have shown an improvement of the elastic properties of the great arteries with nitrate derivatives. In recent studies using TEE, isosorbide dinitrate caused dilatation of the descending thoracic aorta and thereby improved its elastic properties. The development of tonometry techniques in our department has resulted in the finding of excellent correlations between carotid and aortic pulse pressures measured non-invasively. The association of TEE and tonometry thereby provides a direct approach to the evaluation of aortic compliance. It has then become possible to study the effects of nitrate derivatives on the aortic compliance of elderly patients in whom it is the most reduced.

[Quantification of mitral valve diseases by Doppler]. / Quantification des valvulopathies mitrales par Doppler.

Echo Doppler makes a fundamental contribution to the non-invasive quantification of mitral valve disease. It enables calculation of gradients and of orifice surface area in mitral stenosis. The quantification of mitral insufficiency is also possible though more difficult: it is based upon the combination of semi-quantitative and quantitative methods, in particular the calculation of regurgitation fraction obtained by comparison of flow rates at different orifices in cases of pure regurgitation. Finally, the calculation of pulmonary artery pressures from a Doppler record in tricuspid and pulmonary insufficiency can be used to assess the effects of mitral valve disease on the pulmonary circulation. Echo Doppler thus provides a reliable non-invasive hemodynamic assessment of mitral valve disease and should lead to a reduction in the number of invasive investigations in this type of valve disease.

Non-invasive measurement of the regurgitant fraction by pulsed Doppler echocardiography in isolated pure mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of pulsed Doppler echocardiography as a method of measuring the regurgitant fraction in patients with mitral regurgitation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty controls and 27 patients with isolated mitral regurgitation underwent Doppler studies. In the patients the study was performed within 48 hours of cardiac catheterisation. Aortic outflow was measured in the centre of the aortic annulus, and mitral inflow was derived from the flow velocity at the tip of the leaflets and the area of the elliptical mitral opening. The regurgitant fraction was calculated as the difference between the two flows divided by the mtiral inflow. RESULTS: In the 20 controls the two flows were almost identical (mitral inflow, 4.44 (SD 0.88) l/min; aortic outflow, 4.58 (SD 0.84) l/min), with a mean regurgitant fraction of 4.2 (SD 8.4)%. In patients with mitral regurgitation, the mitral inflow was significantly higher than the aortic outflow (8.8 (3.6) v 4.3 (1.1) l/min). In most patients the Doppler-derived regurgitant fraction (45.8 (19.2)%) accorded closely with the regurgitant fraction (41.3 (SD 17.8)%) determined by the haemodynamic technique. CONCLUSION: Pulsed Doppler echocardiography, with an instantaneous velocity-valve area method for calculating mitral inflow, reliably measured the severity of regurgitation in patients with mitral regurgitation.

[Pulsed echo-Doppler evaluation of regurgitant fraction in mitral valve insufficiency]. / Evaluation par écho-Doppler pulsé de la fraction de régurgitation des insuffisances mitrales.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of the regurgitant fraction in pure mitral insufficiency. The Doppler echocardiographic measurement of systemic flow was made at the level of the aortic ring, and the mitral flow by the method of integration of instantaneous flow proposed by Touche. In a preliminary study, we demonstrated a close correlation between forward aortic and mitral flow in 20 normal subjects (r = 0.94; SD = 0.31 l/mn; y = 0.98 x -0.004). We then studied a group of 38 patients with pure isolated mitral regurgitation. Five patients were excluded because of the poor quality of the echocardiographic documents. The hemodynamic regurgitant fraction was determined by measuring pulmonary flow by thermodilution and the left ventricular outflow by digitised angiography. The average Doppler and hemodynamic regurgitant fractions were 46.6 +/- 18% and 42 +/- 17% respectively. There was a close correlation between the Doppler and hemodynamic values (r = 0.91; SD = 7.8%; y = 0.97 x + 5.7). The correlations were also good between Doppler regurgitant fraction and the four angiographic grades of regurgitation (r = 0.88). A statistically significant difference was observed between the Doppler regurgitant fractions of Grades I and II and of Grades III and IV (p less than 0.001). In addition, the ratio of mitral VTI/aortic VTI gave a useful index of regurgitation in pure mitral insufficiency. When the ratio was greater than 1.3 the regurgitant fraction was over 40% with a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 86%. Finally, this study shows that pure, isolated mitral regurgitation can be evaluated by Doppler echocardiography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Determination of transmitral blood flow by pulsed echodoppler. Correlation with aortic blood flow in 30 patients]. / Détermination du débit transmitral par écho-doppler pulsé, corrélation avec le débit aortique chez 30 patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the validity of mitral valve blood flow measured by pulsed Doppler echocardiography (PDE) with the sample volume positioned at the tips of the mitral leaflets. Thirty patients with a mean age of 38.4 years underwent calculation of transmitral blood flow: by Touche's method (A) in which the mitral orifice is assumed to be an ellipse with a constant long axis equal to the diameter of the mitral annulus and a variable short axis equal to the distance between the mitral leaflets measured on the M mode recording. The velocities are recorded by PDE with the sample volume at the tips of the mitral leaflets. The instantaneous cardiac output is equal to the surface multiplied by the instantaneous velocity. The integration of the instantaneous outputs throughout the whole of diastole by a computer programme provides the stroke volume; by a simplification of this method (B) which considers the short axis of the mitral ellipse to be constant and equal to the mean mitral valve leaflet separation measured from the M mode recording, and; by Hoit's method (C) which calculates mitral valve surface area from the M mode recording alone. The transmitral blood flow was calculated by these three methods and compared to the classical PDE aortic cardiac output measurement during the same examination, the accuracy of which has been previously demonstrated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Mitral flow during exercise in the healthy young adult. Use of an ultrasonic probe device]. / Etude du flux mitral pendant l'effort chez l'adulte jeune sain. Utilisation d'un porte-sonde.

Mitral flow velocity was studied during upright exercise on a bicycle ergometer using an original ultrasonic probe support device capable of maintaining a stable apical 4-chamber position. The Doppler sample volume was positioned at the tips of the mitral leaflets. Twelve men (mean age 25.3 +/- 5.8 years) without cardiac disease were studied. Exercise stress testing was performed with 30 watt increments of load of 3 minutes duration up to 120 watts. Mitral flow was recorded before exercise and at each increment of load until the exercise led to an average heart rate increase of 94%. The following changes were observed during exercise: a reduction in the duration of mitral flow (duration MF) and of the Duration MF/RR ratio; an increase in the mean mitral flow velocity of 154% at peak effort compared with basal values and the maximum A and E wave velocities which increased from T0 to T6 from 47 +/- 8.9 to 76 +/- 13 cm/s and from 62.4 +/- 13.1 to 107.8 +/- 14.9 cm/s respectively; the A/E ratio remained stable; mitral velocity time integrals (VTI) remained stable, indicating an increase in mitral surface area during exercise; the stability of the VTI at the A and E waves in absolute values but a mild increase of the A wave VTI/mitral VTI ratio, suggesting a slight increase in the role of atrial contraction during exercise. These results show that the increase in mitral flow velocity during upright exercise on a bicycle ergometer in healthy young adults is accompanied by a constant A/E ratio and mitral VTI which indicates that the mitral surface area increases on effort.

[Doppler echocardiographic study of mitral and aortic flow at various rates and atrioventricular intervals in patients with dual chamber pacemakers]. / Etude par doppler des flux mitral et aortique à fréquences et délais auriculo-ventriculaires différents chez des patients ayant un stimulateur double-chambre.

The aim of this study was to measure the changes in mitral and aortic blood flow induced by rate changes and different atrioventricular intervals in dual chamber pacemaker patients. Ten totally pacemaker dependant patients were studied under basal conditions, in double atrial and ventricular stimulation mode, by pulsed Doppler recordings of mitral and aortic flow, at three different pacing rates (80, 100 and 120/mn) and with three different atrioventricular intervals at each rate (short, 90 or 115 ms; medium, 165 or 190 ms; and long, 240 ms). The increase in pacing rate and prolongation of the atrioventricular interval significantly shortened the duration of mitral flow. Increasing the pacing rate induced a significant fall in stroke volume measured from the aortic flow. The optimal atrioventricular interval tended to shorten when the pacing rate was increased; a long atrioventricular interval had a deleterious effect on stroke volume compared with medium and short atrioventricular intervals; however, the difference between the short and medium atrioventricular intervals was not statistically significant even at 120 mn. These observations emphasise the hemodynamic advantages of shortening of the atrioventricular interval of dual chamber pacemakers when the pacing rate increases.

[Doppler echocardiographic study of hemodynamic changes of double stimulation mode and atrial detection in patients with dual chamber pacemaker. Value of hysteresis of the atrioventricular delay]. / Etude par écho-Doppler des variations hémodynamiques entre modes double stimulation et détection de l'oreillette chez des patients porteurs d'un stimulateur double chambre. Intérêt d'un hystérésis du délai auriculo-ventriculaire.

This Doppler echocardiographic study of patients with a dual chamber pacemaker was undertaken to assess the changes in mitral and aortic flow induced by passing from the double stimulation to the atrial detection mode. Thirteen patients totally dependent on ventricular pacing were examined and mitral and aortic blood flow recorded by pulsed wave Doppler. The chronology of left atrial contraction as assessed by the Doppler mitral A wave was measured with respect to the ventricular stimulation. The A wave was recorded on average 177 ms after the right atrial stimulation artefact. For an average AV delay of 168.8 ms and an identical pacing frequency, the passage from the double stimulation to the atrial detection mode led to left atrial contraction occurring on average 70 ms earlier with respect to ventricular stimulation, reflecting prolongation of the programmed AV delay related to the delay in detection of the sinus atrial wave. This earlier atrial systole shortened the total duration of mitral flow from 363 to 317 ms, decreased the early diastolic mitral flow and increased the atrial end diastolic flow; the stroke volume and cardiac output calculated from the aortic velocity time integral decreased significantly from 73 +/- 11 ml to 67 +/- 10 ml and 5.4 +/- 1.11/mn to 4.9 +/- 1.01/mn respectively. The initial parameters were restored (average 74 +/- 9 ml and 5.5 +/- 1.11/mn respectively) when the AV delay in the atrial detection mode was reduced by a value close to that of the calculated increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Exercise echocardiography and study of the left ventricle in sportsmen during exertion]. / Echocardiographie d'effort et étude du ventricule gauche des sportifs pendant l'effort.

The use of an original ultrasonic transducer holder has made possible the recording of M mode and 2D echocardiography during exercise. Left ventricular function was studied during upright bicycle exercise in two groups: 10 trained athletes (Group A) and 10 normal subjects (Group B). All were 20 years of age. Satisfactory echocardiograms were obtained up to a mean heart rate of 180/mn which corresponded to an average work load of 180 W in Group B and 300 W in Group A. The cardiac output was comparable in the two groups up to a 180 W load, but in Group A a lower HR was compensated by a larger stroke volume (SV). The increase in SV in Group A was related to a greater LV end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) during exercise, whereas the ejection fraction increased less than in the control group. During very strenuous exercise (Group A only) further increases in cardiac output were related mainly to an increased heart rate and to a lesser degree to increased LVEDD and ejection fraction.

[Apical hypertrophic myocardiopathy with mid-ventricular obstruction and apical necrosis]. / Myocardiopathie hypertrophique apicale avec obstruction médio-ventriculaire et nécrose apicale.

In a 41-year old man hospitalized for investigation of a systolic ejection murmur, echocardiography revealed an apical (17 mm) and, chiefly, a mid ventricular (38 mm) myocardial hypertrophy resulting in a true stricture at that level. During systole the mid ventricular area became obstructed, dividing the left ventricule into an apical akinetic chamber and a proximal hyperkinetic chamber. Left ventriculography confirmed this abnormality and catheterization showed a left intraventricular pressure gradient of 60 mmHg. Although left coronary arteriography proved normal, myocardial radionuclide scanning at exercise displayed apical necrosis which resulted in a peculiar haemodynamic behaviour well demonstrated by doppler ultrasound. The apex of the left ventricle was filled in two stages: first, during atrial contraction, giving at doppler (mid ventricular sample) a positive flow with a speed of 1m/sec during 120 ms; then, during the isovolumetric period, giving a positive flow with a speed of 1m/sec during 60 ms. The apex drained during systole and protodiastole, giving a negative mid ventricular obstruction flow with a speed of 4 m/sec with protosystolic and mesodiastolic reinforcement.

[Massive poisoning by naftidrofuryl with severe disorders of rhythm and conduction]. / Intoxication massive par le naftidrofuryl avec troubles sévères du rythme et de la conduction.

The authors report the case of a 35-year old woman with normal heart who voluntarily poisoned herself by swallowing 6 grams of naftidrofuryl. She developed disorders of atrioventricular conduction and a ventricular-like arrhythmia with collapse which resolves after mechanical ventilation. Data from the literature indicate that naftidrofuryl possesses class I electrophysiological properties which must not be ignored and which account for the cardiac effects observed in this particular case and in cases of parenteral overdosage already reported. By analogy with class I antiarrhythmic agents, treatment of naftidrofuryl poisoning with disorders of conduction could include the administration of molar sodium lactate.

[Auricular flutter preceding by several years the discovery of Steinert's disease. 3 cases]. / Flutter auriculaire précédant de plusieurs années la découverte d'une maladie de Steinert. Trois observations.

The large frequency of arrhythmias and conduction disorders in the course of Steinert's myotonic dystrophy is well known; most of the time, the muscle disease is already known when the heart disease is discovered. The authors report three cases of young subjects (2, 31 and 35 years) in whom an atrial flutter without obvious etiology preceded by several years (14, 2.5 and 2 years) the diagnosis of muscular disease. On this occasion, the characteristics of the heart involvement in Steinert's disease are reminded: large frequency of atrial and also ventricular rhythm disorders, distalic conduction disorders. Our cases emphasize the importance of diagnosing Steinert's disease by clinical examination, electromyography and neuro-muscular biopsy in front of a rhythm disorder--especially atrial flutter--or an interventricular conduction disorders occurring, without obvious etiology, in a young subject.

[[Doppler echocardiography in the diagnosis of tri-atrial heart in adults]. / Apport de l'échocardiographie-doppler dans le diagnostic du coeur triatrial de l'adulte.

The authors report a case of isolated and well tolerated cor triatriatum in a 38-year old man without significant history admitted for aetiological diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Echocardiography displayed the left intra-atrial septum and the openings of the 4 pulmonary veins in the proximal chamber, but there was no evidence of associated anomaly. Colour-coded doppler examination visualized a single systolo-diastolic trans-septal jet. As the maximum velocity of the jet at pulsed doppler velocimetry was 1.1 m/s, the maximum instantaneous gradient could be estimated at 5 mmHg. The mean gradient was estimated at 2.6 mmHg, which showed that the ostium caused little stenosis. All these data were confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Since the malformation was well tolerated, both functionally and haemodynamically, it was decided not to operate.

[Demonstration by Doppler echocardiography of multiple valvular involvement in carcinoid cardiopathy]. / Démonstration par l'écho-Doppler d'une atteinte polyvalvulaire au cours d'une cardiopathie carcinoïde.

We report a case of carcinoid heart disease which was remarkable on three scores: --the value of echocardiography which enabled us to diagnose the disease; --the usefulness of cardiac doppler examination which provided non-invasive haemodynamic evaluation of lesions of the four valves; --the presence of moderate involvement of the right heart, which is classical from the point of view of anatomopathology but is often missed clinically and was ascertained in that case by doppler-echocardiography.

[Idiopathic mitral valve prolapse and prolapse leakage. Study using Doppler ultrasound in 51 cases]. / Prolapsus valvulaire mitral idiopathique et fuites valvulaires. Etude par écho Doppler de 51 cas.

This study concerns 51 cases of mitral valve prolapse demonstrated on bidimensional 4 cavities sonography according to Gilbert's criteria and aims to determine the frequency of the associated valvular involvement, anatomically with sonography and functionally with the Doppler test. Sonography demonstrates a tricuspid valve prolapse in 79 p. cent of the cases and an aortic valve prolapse in 10 p. cent. The Doppler test demonstrates a tricuspid leakage in 52 p. cent of the cases, a pulmonary leakage in 62 p. cent, and an aortic leakage in 18 p. cent. The myxoid degeneration found in 60 p. cent of the cases is a major factor in the occurrence of complications, especially progressive cardiac insufficiency (A). The myxoid degeneration defines therefore the "isolated prolapse disease" as opposed to "the prolapse without myxoid degeneration" which is a pure sonographic entity and probably a variation of the normal (A). This cardiac insufficiency occurs late during the 6th or 7th decade and is due to mechanical factors: prolapse, chords rupture and annular dilatation.