Relationship Mitral valve prolapse syndrome and duodenal ulcer disease with concomitant autonomic dysfunction.

Background: There is no evidence regarding the crucial topic of possible correlation between duodenal ulcer disease and mitral valve prolapse syndrome. We herein investigated the potential relationship between these two disorders.

Methods: Eighty-three hospitalized patients with active duodenal ulcer disease were compared with 31 healthy controls for the presence of mitral valve prolapse syndrome. All participants underwent cardiac examination and echocardiography. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressures were estimated in supine baseline and standing positions.

Results: Echocardiographic mitral valve prolapse was present in 36 (43.37%) of the patients and only in 1 (3%) of controls (P=0.001). Auscultatory findings of systolic murmurs (50% vs. 4%, respectively; P=0.001) and symptoms related to the cardiovascular system (i.e., chest pain: 75% vs. 30%, respectively; P=0.001) were more common in patients with mitral valve prolapse than those without it. Heart rate was lesser in patients with mitral valve prolapse in supine location (71.001.73 vs. 76.101.66, respectively; P=0.04), and was higher in the upright location in patients than those without mitral valve prolapse (91.542.73 vs. 83.422.71, respectively; P=0.04) and in normal controls (91.542.73 vs. 84.062.02, respectively; P=0.03). Moreover, blood group O and male gender were more common among the patients with mitral valve prolapse, compared to normal controls (67% vs. 39%, respectively; P=0.03, and 61% vs. 35%; P=0.05, respectively).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest a clinical and genetic relationship between active duodenal ulcer and mitral valve prolapse syndrome connected with autonomic dysfunction. Further studies are warranted to confirm this crucial topic.