Clinical Symptoms of Mitral Stenosis Therapy in Men and Women

Introduction: Mitral stenosis is a narrowing or blockage of the opening of the mitral valve. Symptoms usually develop between the ages of 20 and 50. It most commonly occurs in people who have had rheumatic faver. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical, characteristics of mitral stenosis in men and women and their reactions to Balloon Mitral Valvotomy (BMV). 

Materials and Methods: 300 patients who suffered from mitral stenosis (moderate or severe) and admitted for BMV were studied during four years in Madani Heart Hospital (Tabriz-Iran). Echocardiography was performed before and after BMV in all patients trough Transthorasic and Transesophagial. Selective or nonselective coronary angiography in most of the cases was carried out and data were compared between two genders.

Results: 218 female (72.5%) and 82 male (27.5%) aged 38.7±1.4 years old (13 to 72) were studied. Higher CAD rate was observed in men than women (P= 0.002). Mitral Valve Surface Area (MVSA) was smaller and the morphology of the valve score was not suitable for BMV in men (P=0.0025 and P<0.0001 respectively). Symptoms of heart failure at FC III-IV level and diuretic prescription were higher in women than men (P=0.058 and P=0.053 respectively). There was no significant difference in hemodynamic variables, BMV side effects and other echocardiographic results between men and women.

Conclusion: The incidence of mitral stenosis in women was higher than men. These findings confirmed that pathophysiology of mitral valve stenosis are different between men and women and the changes and the gender should be considered in treatment methods.