Papillary muscle hypertrophy in chronic rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. A clinicopathologic study.

A quantitative pathologic study was performed on papillary muscles in 15 cases of chronic rheumatic mitral stenosis. The papillary muscles were grossly hypertrophied as compared with papillary muscles in 10 normal specimens. Hypertrophy of papillary muscles was associated with pronounced fibrosis. Angiographically, these hearts were remarkable in small left ventricular cavity with almost complete cavity elimination at end systole. Left ventricular wall dyskinesia was also present. It is probable that derangement of the mitral valve structure due to rheumatic process leads to more stress on the supporting elements, thus resulting in papillary muscle hypertrophy.