- NEED HELP? CALL US NOW
- +919995411505
- [email protected]
Barlow Syndrome
Mitral valve prolapse, also known as Barlow syndrome, is a type of heart valve disease in which the flaps (also called leaflets or cusps) of the mitral valve become enlarged or stretched. These enlarged flaps bulge (prolapse) into the left atrium as the heart contracts with each heartbeat.
It is more common in females.
In this valvular abnormality, one or both mitral leaflets are “floppy” and prolapse, or balloon back into the left atrium during systole. This gives rise to the mid systolic click.
Symptoms
- Most of the patients are usually asymptomatic.
- The condition is discovered only on routine examination by the presence of a midsystolic click as an incidental finding on physical examination.
- In those cases where mitral regurgitation occurs, there is a late systolic or sometimes holosystolic murmur.
- Patients may present with chest pain mimicking angina,
- Dyspnea, and
- Fatigue or, psychiatric manifestations, such as depression, anxiety reactions, and
- Personality disorders
Microscopically
- The characteristic anatomic change in myxomatous degeneration is intercordal ballooning (hooding) of complete or portions of the mitral leaflets.
- The affected leaflets are often enlarged, redundant, thick, and rubbery.
- The tendinous cords are elongated, thinned, and occasionally ruptured.
Other features
- Annular dilation is a characteristic association(this finding is rare in other causes of mitral insufficiency)
- Mitral valve prolapse is defined and revealed by echocardiography.
- The risk of complications like Infective endocarditis, Mitral insufficiency, Stroke or other systemic infarct and Arrhythmias is higher in men, older patients, and those with either arrhythmias or some mitral regurgitation, as evidenced by holosystolic murmurs and left-sided chamber enlargement.
