Impact of Thermotherapy on Severe Mitral Valve Prolapse: An Approach from Persian Medicine

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is defined as the cephalad displacement of part(s) or segments of the mitral valve leaflets into the left atrium passing the mitral annular ring during the systolic period [1,2]. Based on surgical and pathologic investigations, the expansion of the mitral valve leaflets area due to extended chordae tendineae, chordae tendineae rupture or often mitral annular dilatation is named as the Floppy Mitral Valve (FMV). Clearly FMV should be the basis for the diagnosis of MVP [2,3]. The severity and incidence of abnormalities in FMV/MVP increases with age. Its prevalence in the general population is 2 to 3% [2]. FMV/MVP occurs in a various group of patients with a mild to severe range of hemodynamic anomalies and mitral valve involvement [2]. The most common symptoms in this disease contain orthostatic phenomena (hypotension, tachycardia), palpitations, cardiac arrhythmias, syncope or pre-syncope, exercise intolerance/ fatigue, dyspnea or chest pain. The symptoms start around the average age of 30, beginning with a wide variety of symptoms [3]. Symptoms may continue for years and may last even after valve surgery [2]. Echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography are the most general and beneficial methods for the identification and follow-up of patients with FMV/MVP [3]. While beta blockers can often alleviate symptoms of MVP, there is no medication to avert or avoid the progression of valve prolapse. Prophylactic Antibiotic against bacterial endocarditis is no longer suggested except when the patient has had a previous recognized endocarditis or has identified endocarditis or undergone mitral valve replacement [1]. Many patients with mitral valve prolapse and severe regurgitation can undertake successful repair throughout a diversity of techniques [1]. We hereby introduce a treated case in which local thermotherapy was used to reduce the symptoms of a MVP patient.