[Mitral valve prolapse and respiratory diseases].

Respiratory function was studied in 9 patients with mitral prolapse because of myxomatous degeneration of valvular cusps. Respiratory disorders were diagnosed in 7 of them. Respiratory organ abnormalities in cusp prolapses result from hereditary deficiency of the connective tissue with visceral manifestations. Valvular cusp prolapse and their myxomatous degeneration may serve as markers of impairment of the respiratory organs and other viscera related to "weakness" of the connective tissue.