EFFECTS OF HYDRATION ON MITRAL-VALVE PROLAPSE

We investigated the effect of hydration on mitral valve prolapse (MVP) . Ten subjects with documented diagnosis of MVP were studied before an d after oral hydration with 1 L of fluid. Increased weight and cardiac output were present after hydration. Results showed that all 10 subje cts with diagnosis of MVP before hydration continued to have MVP after hydration; however, subtle changes were detected, especially on auscu ltation. Seven of 9 subjects (with cardiac examination recorded before and after hydration) had auscultatory findings of MVP before hydratio n. No detectable auscultatory change after hydration was present in on e subject; in six subjects a loss of either a click or a murmur was de tected after hydration. All subjects had echocardiographically detecte d MVP before hydration; evidence of MVP on two-dimensional or M-mode e xamination persisted after hydration in all 10 subjects. Minor changes in the echocardiographic examination (M-mode n = 2, Doppler n = 1) we re detected in three subjects. Thus we found that hydration of subject s with MVP did not alter the overall diagnosis; however, changes occur red, especially on auscultation. This suggests that alterations in hyd ration may affect auscultatory expression of MVP and could explain, in part, the variable auscultatory findings in patients with MVP.