[Clinical case of the month. Prolapse due to fibro-elastic degeneration. The aging of the mitral valve].

We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who presents an acute mitral regurgitation secondary to fibro-elastic degenerescence. A mitral valvuloplasty is rapidly performed with complete disappearance of valvular insufficiency and the patient leaves the hospital ten days later. Degenerative mitral regurgitation is commonly seen in elderly patients. This constitutes an excellent indication for mitral valvuloplasty, rather than valve replacement. In our experience, mitral valvuloplasty leads to a complete correction of valvular regurgitation without neither stenosis, nor subvalvular obstruction. Left ventricular function is preserved, as subvalvular apparatus is conserved. This approach allows, in the absence of specific indication, anticoagulation withdrawn two to three months later.