Coexisting Hypertrophic Heart Disease and Mitral Valve Prolapse: A Continuum of Hereditary Cardiac Disease?

The finding at autopsy of typical pathologic features of hypertrophic heart disease (idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, IHSS) and mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in a single patient prompted study of a number of close relatives of this patient. Several additional cases of IHSS or MVP were found. The HLA typing of this kindred revealed that four out of seven members tested had the Bw 35 antigen. Although the association might be doe to chance, this kindred, together with prior reports of similar bizarre myocardial cellular disarray in IHSS and MVP, suggest the hypothesis that in some instances, IHSS and MVP may represent a continuum of hereditary cardiac disorders.