Prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in younger patients with cerebral ischaemic attacks. A blinded controlled study

Paracentral acute middle maculopathy following coronary angiography

Purpose

To describe a case of paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) after coronary angiography.

Observations

A 65-year-old female patient exhibited a dense central scotoma 5 hrs after coronary angiography. She presented the next day to the retina clinic and received a complete visual examination including slit lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundus examination, fluorescein angiogram (FA), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and OCT-Angiography (OCT-A). She was found to have the characteristic findings of PAMM including a hyperreflective band at the inner nuclear layer (INL) with extension into the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and outer plexiform layer (OPL) on imaging.

Conclusions and Importance

PAMM lesions can occur immediately following coronary angiography. The acute nature of the presentation and time to examination in this case lend further insights into the pathophysiology of PAMM. When patients undergo cardiovascular interventions and report new onset visual scotomas, the diagnosis of PAMM should be considered with referral for careful ophthalmic examination and work-up.

Mitral annulus calcification and embolism

Of 388 patients consecutively referred to echocardiography, 49 were suspected of having a cardiac source of systemic arterial embolism (SE). Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) was revealed in 27% of the patients with SE and in 8% of the remaining patients (p less than 0.05). The group of patients with SE were slightly older (median age 67 years) and included more female patients (47%) compared to the group without SE (62 years, p less than 0.05; 40% female patients, p greater than 0.05). However, the small differences in age and sex distribution did not explain satisfactorily the considerably increased prevalence of MAC in the group of patients with SE. Our preliminary data indicated that thromboembolism caused by left atrial dilatation and atrial fibrillation might be the most important cause of the condition in patients with MAC and SE. However, the significance of the possible mechanisms of embolism in patients with MAC and the incidence of the complication should be further clarified before therapy and prophylaxis can be suggested.

Lack of evidence of an association between mitral-valve prolapse and stroke in young patients

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of mitral-valve prolapse among patients with embolic stroke (28 to 40 percent), especially among young patients (those < or =45 years old); this finding has practical implications for prophylaxis. However, diagnostic criteria for prolapse have changed and are now based on three-dimensional analysis of the shape of the valve; use of the current criteria reduces markedly the frequency of such a diagnosis and increases its specificity. Previously described complications must therefore be reconsidered.

METHODS

In a case-control study, we reviewed data on 213 consecutive patients 45 years old or younger with documented ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack between 1985 and 1995; they underwent complete neurologic and echocardiographic evaluations. The prevalence of prolapse in these patients was compared with that in 263 control subjects without known heart disease, who were referred to our institution for assessment of ventricular function before receiving chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Mitral-valve prolapse was present in 4 of the 213 young patients with stroke (1.9 percent), as compared with 7 of the 263 controls (2.7 percent); prolapse was present in 2 of 71 patients (2.8 percent) with otherwise unexplained stroke. The crude odds ratio for mitral-valve prolapse among the patients who had strokes, as compared with those who did not have strokes, was 0.70 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.15 to 2.80; P=0.80); after adjustment for age and sex, the odds ratio was 0.59 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.12 to 2.50; P=0.62).

CONCLUSIONS

Mitral-valve prolapse is considerably less common than previously reported among young patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack, including unexplained stroke, and no more common than among controls. Using more specific and currently accepted echocardiographic criteria, therefore, we could not demonstrate an association between the presence of mitral-valve prolapse and acute ischemic neurologic events in young people.

Risk of stroke with mitral valve prolapse in population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether mitral valve prolapse increases the subsequent risk of stroke.

METHODS

A historical cohort study was conducted on 1079 residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, who had an initial echocardiographic diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse between 1975 and 1989 without prior stroke or transient ischemic attack and who were followed up for first stroke occurrence.

RESULTS

There was an overall twofold increase in the incidence of stroke among individuals with mitral valve prolapse relative to the reference population (standardized morbidity ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 3.2). Sex, duration of follow-up from the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse, or calendar year of initial diagnosis did not modify the association. Within the cohort of patients who were at least 35 years old at diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse, a time-dependent proportional-hazards multivariate model and a person-years analysis revealed that age, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus were important determinants for stroke when person-years of observation after mitral valve replacement were excluded. Among seven persons with mitral valve replacement, three strokes occurred in 24 person-years of follow-up. For those with an auscultatory diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse only as the indication for echocardiography (44%), the risk of stroke relative to the population was 1.0 (95% confidence interval, 0.2 to 2.9); for those with another cardiac diagnosis, the standardized morbidity ratio was 2.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 4.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with uncomplicated mitral valve prolapse did not have an increased risk of stroke, although a small increase in the risk may not have been detected.

Transient ischaemic attacks in young patients: a thromboembolic or migrainous manifestation? A 10 year follow up study of 46 patients

Forty six patients aged 18-39 years with transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) were studied; two thirds were women. Twenty five patients had attacks accompanied by headache, and seven gave a history of common migraine. Only four of 27 angiograms were abnormal; no operable carotid lesion was demonstrated. Over a mean follow up period of 10 years stroke or myocardial infarction (AMI) occurred in all four patients who presented major cerebrovascular risk factors, but in only two of the remaining 42 patients. Thus irrespective of age thromboembolic TIA is a harbinger of stroke or AMI. However, most TIAs under the age of 40 years are caused by a non-embolic benign vascular disorder. The clinical characteristics, long-term prognosis, and possible pathogenesis, for such attacks are often indistinguishable from those of classical migraine. In the absence of cardiovascular risk factors, arteriography does not provide much diagnostic and prognostic information.

[Cerebral arterial ischemic complications in young adults. Etiology and prognosis]

The authors investigated 100 patients (55 males and 45 females) aged 16 to 45 years who experienced cerebral ischemic attack, excluding venous thrombosis. Transient ischemic attacks accounted for 12% only. Attacks were related to usual causes of brain ischemia in 49 cases (premature atherosclerosis in 26, cardiopathy in 20 and lacunar stroke in 3). Thirty-eight events were attributed to most uncommon etiologies. Nonatherosclerotic arteriopathies (10 cases) such as spontaneous dissection, dysplasia or megadolichoarteries were easily diagnosed by angiography. Oral contraceptives (14 cases) and migraine (2 cases) were diagnosis of exclusion. Hematological disorders were a possible cause in 10 patients. Etiology remained undetermined in 13 cases. Four patients died acutely. Follow-up data were obtained in 93 survivors with a mean duration of 26 months (range, 6 to 60 months). Four subjects died during follow-up and 6 experienced recurrent stroke (annual recurrence rate: 3%). In activities of daily living, 64% of patients had complete autonomy while 13% had mild residual disability and 23% had severe handicap.

Thromboembolism in patients with advanced mitral valve prolapse

Thromboembolism in mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has been suggested to occur in relation to valvular cul-de-sac recesses and endothelial wear-and-tear denudations. Such pathology would be suspected to be prominent in advanced cases of MVP necessitating open-heart operation. We therefore analysed the prevalence of perivalvular thrombi and episodes of systemic arterial embolism (SE) prior to operation in 21 consecutive patients with MVP and severe valve regurgitation. No perivalvular or left atrial thrombi were found during open-heart surgery, but three of the patients (14%, 3-36% with 95% confidence limits) experienced SE, in one case despite long-term anticoagulation. All cases of SE took place less than 3 months before operation. The results indicate that persistent thrombi are rare in MVP and severe valve regurgitation. However, such patients run a substantial risk of SE when they reach a clinical and haemodynamic stage that makes valve surgery mandatory.

Mitral leaflet billowing and prolapse: its prevalence around the world

Primary mitral leaflet billowing, or so-called mitral valve prolapse, has become the most common valve anomaly in the United States and is also frequently found throughout the world. Its prevalence varies from less than 1% to 38%, differing not only between countries but also within the same country. The prevalence depends on whether the study is clinical or echocardiographic, based on autopsy or surgical material, or of hospital or non-care-seeking population. Other explanations for the varying prevalence are the age, sex and weight differences of the study population, imprecise terminology, the care with which auscultation and/or echocardiography are carried out and interpreted, and some selection biases. Although prevalent throughout the world, the condition is generally benign and can often be regarded as a normal variant. Among the complications of mitral valve prolapse, progressive mitral regurgitation and infective endocarditis are particularly noteworthy. Primary mitral valve prolapse is currently a leading cause of mitral regurgitation and also of infective endocarditis.

Lacunar infarction in a puerpera with mitral valve prolapse

We report the case of a 20-year-old woman who presented with pure motor hemiparesis due to a deep hemispheric infarction after delivery of twins followed by marked blood loss and anemia. Echocardiography revealed mitral valve prolapse, which was regarded as the main determinant of her stroke, since detailed clinical and instrumental evaluation disclosed no other apparent causes. Careful analysis of predisposing factors is warranted in lacunar strokes, particularly if they occur in young patients.

Cerebral ischemia and mitral valve prolapse: case-control study of associated factors

We evaluated 36 patients with cerebral ischemia and mitral valve prolapse and compared them with 36 age-matched controls with cerebral ischemia who had similar attributes but who did not have mitral valve prolapse. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed an inverse relation between cerebral ischemia in the presence of mitral valve prolapse and hypertension, diabetes mellitus, occlusive cerebrovascular disease, and completed stroke at p less than 0.01. We also found, by correlation analysis, a negative correlation between both hypertension and diabetes mellitus versus mitral valve prolapse at p less than 0.05. Overall, 10 study patients compared with two control patients had no risk factors for cerebrovascular disease detected (chi 2 = 4.9, p less than 0.05). These data indicate that the association of mitral valve prolapse and cerebral ischemia is of special importance in patients who do not have other detected risk factors for cerebrovascular disease.

Mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse is a common mitral valve disorder manifested clinically as a midsystolic click and/or a late systolic murmur (the click-murmur syndrome) and pathologically as billowing or prolapsing mitral leaflets (the floppy valve syndrome). Not only is it one of the two most common congenital heart diseases and the most common valve disorder diagnosed in the United States, but it is also prevalent throughout the world. Mitral valve prolapse may be associated with a variety of other conditions or diseases. Diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse should be made on clinical grounds and, if necessary, supported by echocardiography. The majority of patients with mitral valve prolapse suffer no serious sequelae. However, major complications such as disabling angina-like chest pains, progressive mitral regurgitation, infective endocarditis, thromboembolism, serious arrhythmias, and sudden death may occur. Unless these serious complications occur, most of the patients with mitral valve prolapse need no treatment other than reassurance, including those with atypical chest pain or palpitation unconfirmed by objective data. Therapy with a beta-blocker for disabling chest pain and/or arrhythmias and antiplatelet therapy for cerebral embolic events may be indicated. In occasional patients with significant mitral regurgitation surgery may be necessary.

Neurologic disorders associated with mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse has been reported to be associated with a variety of neurologic disorders, including cerebral ischemia, transient global amnesia, migraine, autonomic dysfunction, and psychiatric disease. The evidence supporting these associations and possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. Some neurologic disorders may be direct complications of mitral valve prolapse, while others may occur as part of an underlying genetic defect or common link.