[Assessment of cardiovascular reflexes in patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome].

OBJECTIVE

Functional evaluation of Autonomic Nervous System in patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome.

DESIGN

Study of cardiovascular reflexes.

SETTING

Out patients studied in the Laboratory for Study of Autonomic Nervous System Function of Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We studied 20 patients with clinical and echocardiographic diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse, who presented Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome, without significant mitral regurgitation, and with normal left ventricular function. Cardiovascular reflexes were analysed by mean of five tests.

RESULTS

In 75% of the cases, patients had results according to vagal hypofunction. Orthostatic hypotension was present in 40%. Among patients with orthostatic hypotension, 75% had postural phenomena. Among patients with postural phenomena, 75% had orthostatic hypotension.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, patients behaviour hasn't been uniform. Vagal hypofunction was present in 75% and orthostatic hypotension in 40% of the cases. A relation has been found between orthostatic hypotension and postural into.