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.