GENDER DIFFERENCES IN DEHYDRATION-INDUCED MITRAL-VALVE PROLAPSE

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common cardiac valve abnormality that affects women more frequently than men, We have previously shown that mild dehydration induces echocardiographic signs of MVP in approximat ely 50% of healthy asthenic women with previously normal cardiac findi ngs. The present study was designed to investigate whether dehydration can induce MVP in normal men. Ten healthy male volunteers with a mean body mass index of 24.2 kg/m(2), unremarkable history, and normal car diac findings and echocardiogram were examined after mild diuresis wit h 20 mg furosemide. Significant decrease in weight, left ventricular e nd-diastolic dimension, and cardiac output were detected in all subjec ts after furosemide administration, In 1 (10%) of the 10 subjects echo cardiographic MVP developed after furosemide administration. All furos emide-induced changes resolved with hydration, These results demonstra te that dehydration-induced MVP in men without characteristic body hab itus of MVP occurs with substantially lower frequency than previously documented in women with the characteristic body habitus of MVP, This study suggests the importance of gender and body habitus in dehydratio n-induced MVP.