PREVALENCE OF BICUSPID AORTIC-VALVE AND MITRAL-VALVE PROLAPSE IN A HEALTHY SAUDI POPULATION AND THE CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR ASSOCIATION

In this study, 103 Saudi males and 172 Saudi females were referred for medical check up for employment purposes and/or as undergraduate stud ents. Clinical evaluation of all participants included full cardiovasc ular examination, with the following investigations being performed: E CG, chest x-ray, and cross-sectional echocardiography. Bicuspid aortic valve was detected in three males and in four females, for a total pe rcentage of 2.5%. Isolated mitral valve prolapse was detected in seven males (6.7%) and six females (3.5%). Association with mitral valve pr olapse was reported in five males and seven females, with a total perc entage of 4.3%. This association seems to have important etiological, medical and surgical implications.