Keratoconus and mitral valve prolapse.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of keratoconus in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

METHODS

Videokeratography was performed in 36 patients (72 eyes) with an echocardiographic diagnosis of MVP, and were compared with 25 controls. All participants underwent slit-lamp examination and completed a medical questionnaire about joint hypermobility, arthralgia, asthma, and allergic reactions.

RESULTS

Keratoconus was found in eight eyes (11. 1%) (P =.056) of eight patients (22.2%) (P =.049) in the MVP group and in one eye (2%) of one patient (4%) in the control group. The keratoconus was unilateral and asymptomatic in all cases. Conjunctival papillae were statistical significant higher in the MVP group (P =.015). A statistically significant intergroup difference existed in the presence of an allergic reaction (P =.001), but not in arthralgia, hypermobility of joints, or asthma.

CONCLUSION

A borderline important association of MVP with keratoconus and with allergy exists. Patients with mitral valve prolapse complaining of poor vision should be suspected of having keratoconus.