["Straight back" syndrome].

The authors report the clinical case of a 21-year-old man, with " straight back " syndrome, admitted due to prostration and fever. He developed acute pulmonary oedema and shock, caused by chordae tendineae rupture of a mixomatous and prolapsing mitral valve, with endocarditis. He had also a mixomatous tricuspid valve, reduced calibre distal thoracic aorta and celiac trunk stenosis. Mitral valve replacement and Vega annuloplasty were performed. This case illustrates the association between " straight back " syndrome and valvular and vascular disease and emphasizes that structural heart and vascular abnormalities may be present more often in these patients than previously anticipated.