[Cardiac myxoma in patients over 75 years of age. Report of 19 cases].

Left atrial myxoma is considered to be exceptionally rare in the elderly. The authors observed and reported on 19 cases occurring in patients over 75 years of age out of a series of 100 myxomas diagnosed between 1962 and 1997, in 12 women and 7 men (mean age: 80 years, range 75 to 89 years). In 3 cases, the myxomas were chance findings at echocardiography but the 16 symptomatic patients (85%) had left ventricular failure (47%), positional symptoms (25%), pyrexia and poor general health (17%) or systemic embolism (17%).

[Cardiac involvements in scleroderma: study with echocardiography and cardiac Doppler in 38 patients].

A study of heart lesions has been conducted in 38 patients with systemic sclerosis using echocardiography, doppler and colour doppler. Abnormalities were found in 66% patients. Valvulopathies (mainly mitral regurgitation) were the most frequent lesions (45%).