[Spontaneous compensation of severe mitral insufficiency secondary to rupture of chordae tendineae in an athlete].

The article describes an observation of spontaneous compensation of severe mitral insufficiency due to chordal avulsion in a 52-year-old sportsman adapted to hard physical load. After a physical load, the sportsman developed symptoms of acute mitral insufficiency. EchoCG revealed myxomatous degeneration of mitral cusps, chordal avulsion, severe mitral insufficiency, and volume overload of the left heart. The patient refused surgical treatment; conservative therapy was conducted. A three-year follow-up revealed an unexpectedly fast decrease in the size of heart cavities and the speed of regurgitation. The authors reckon that the these fast changes took place due to the sportsmen's heart adaptation to volume overload.