[Cytochrome system of myocardial mitochondria in patients with mitral valve insufficiency].

The content of cytochromes in the mytochondria of the papillary muscles and auricles of the left atria was studied by means of differentiated spectrophotometry in patients operated on for mitral valve insufficiency. A significant reduction of all cytochromes was noted in the papillary muscles of the left ventricle that depended on the stage of circulatory insufficiency. In cases of a protracted course of the disease a tendency towards a reduction in the content of all cytochromes, especially the a + a3 cytochrome, was noted in the papillary muscle. When the content of cytochromes in the myocardium was reduced, the number of cardiac complications in the postoperative period was much higher. A moderately expressed activity of the rheumatic process had no significant effect upon the content of cytochromes in the heart muscle.