Glucocorticoid activeness in patients with mitral valve prolapse and autonomic dysfunction

Abstract

Background

Urgency of psychophysiological examination of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) patients is suggested by a high incidence of anxiety disorders among these patients.

Objectives

To study glucocorticoid function activity and emotional stress resistance in MVP patients with autonomic dysfunction (AD).

Methods

The trait anxiety level (TA) was assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger). Emotional stress resistance was undertaken with our modified version of Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test (Zinchenko, Pervichko). The cortisol level in blood plasma was measured by radioimmunoassay technique with radioimmune assay kit of cortisol in human blood plasma ‘KORT-3N’ (Belarus). There were 32 MVP patients (mean age was 28.5 ± 1.6 years) and 15 healthy people (mean age was 27.5 ± 1.3 years) who took part in the study.

Results

Among reactions to frustration revealed by MVP patients the following categories are dominating: extrapunitive (Е), ego-defensive (ED), and obstacle-dominance (OD). There was revealed a direct correlations: TA and Е (r = 0.49, Р < 0.001); TA and ED (r = 0.46, Р < 0.01); TA and indexes of AD (r = 0.43, Р < 0.01).

There was displayed a higher level of cortisol in MVP patients with severe grade of AD, against the level revealed by patients with average grade of AD (433.9 ± 78.0 mmol/L vs. 299.3 ± 42.9 mmol/L; Р < 0.05). Direct correlations were established between the cortisol level and the level of TA (r = 0.45; Р < 0.01); between the frequency of E-reactions in Modified Rosenzweig Test and cortisol level (r = 0.42; Р < 0.01).

Conclusion

Along with low stress resistance, registered AD and high level of TA, MVP patients reveal higher indexes of cortisol in blood plasma.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.