Samuel A. Levine and the history of grading systolic murmurs

Murmurs were described first by Laennec in 1819, after which the significance of a murmur became a matter of debate. By the late 19th century, many physicians regarded systolic murmurs as "organic," whereas others believed that they were often "functional." Samuel Levine became a central figure in separating functional from organic systolic murmurs. Freeman and Levine's 1933 study of 1,000 "noncardiac" subjects determined the frequency, cause, and significance of systolic murmurs. Murmurs were rated on a scale of 1 to 6 grades of intensity. Approximately 20% of their patients had grade 1 or 2 systolic murmurs. Hypertension, fever, tachycardia, and anemia were common factors, and the murmurs were considered functional because they would often disappear when these causes were controlled. Of 19 subjects with grade 3 or 4 murmurs, all were determined to have organic heart disease or anemia. Thus, louder systolic murmurs were found to be a significant finding, as were the cause, location, and effects of posture. They concluded that systolic murmurs often have an explanation and that their grade can be useful in the diagnosis and prognosis. They cautioned that a loud systolic murmur did not necessarily indicate a bad prognosis or even serious heart disease. Levine's system of grading a systolic murmur is valuable and persists into the 21st century.     

多普勒超声心动图对原因不明心脏收缩期杂音的诊断价值

目的　探讨多普勒超声心动图技术判定原因不明心脏收缩期杂音性质的价值。方法　选择门诊初诊的原因不明心脏杂音的患者 16 0例 ,年龄 14～ 86 (5 6± 2 4)岁 ,分析比较心内科医师进行临床心脏检查 (无临床病史、心电图及 X线资料参考 )和超声心动图检查判定心脏杂音性质的准确性。结果　超声心动诊断功能性杂音 38例 ,器质性杂音 12 2例 ,以主动脉和二尖瓣复合病变最常见 ;其中主动脉瓣狭窄 (AS) 38例 ,主动脉瓣反流 (AR) 32例 ,二尖瓣反流 (MR) 4 5例 ,三尖瓣反流 (TR) 2 8例 ,二尖瓣脱垂 (MVP) 15例 ,室间隔缺损 (VSD) 12例 ,另外有 19例患者可记录到收缩晚期室内峰值压差。临床心脏检查确定功能性杂音、AS、AR、MR、TR、MVP、VSD及室内峰值压差的敏感性依次为 6 6 %、73%、2 2 %、72 %、6 0 %、5 6 %、98%及 2 1% ,与孤立性瓣膜病变比较 ,复合瓣膜病变时临床诊断的敏感性最差 (P<0 .0 0 1)。有 16例临床及超声心动图心脏检查不符。结论　临床心脏检查确定杂音性质有局限性 ,特别是在一个以上部位瓣膜病变时 ,因此对原因不明的心脏收缩期杂音常规进行超声心动图检查则可明确诊断     

Do systolic murmurs predict mortality in the elderly? A 15-year longitudinal population study of 70-year-olds

Systolic murmurs are common in the elderly but there is a striking paucity regarding published reports on their clinical significance and relation with mortality. This study describes prevalence of systolic murmurs in the elderly and cardiovascular diseases in 70-year-olds with or without systolic murmurs, and investigates the relation between systolic murmurs at age 70 and 15-year mortality. This cohort study is based on 973 (449 males and 524 females) 70-year-olds from G?teborg, Sweden who were examined in 1971/1972 at the Department of Geriatric Medicine, G?teborg University, and was followed-up to the year 2001. The prevalence of systolic murmur was 31% (females 36.4%, males 23.9%). Among subjects with systolic murmurs the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypertension was significantly higher in both sexes and congestive heart failure (CHF) in females only. Systolic murmur was a predictor for mortality in females (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.17-1.91) but not in males (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.89-1.49). Diagnosis of a cardiovascular disease was a significant predictor in both sexes for mortality irrespective of having systolic murmurs. In conclusion, there is a significant positive association of cardiovascular diseases with systolic murmurs in the elderly. The increased risk for mortality due to the presence of systolic murmur at age 70 is mediated through cardiovascular diseases.     

Exercise first-pass radionuclide assessment of left and right ventricular function and valvular regurgitation in symptomatic mitral valve prolapse

The changes in right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) function and in regurgitant fractions on first-pass exercise radionuclide angiography (RNA) were assessed in 29 consecutive patients with symptomatic mitral valve prolapse (MVP). The mean right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was 35 +/- 8% at rest and 46 +/- 15% after exercise (p less than 0.001). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 62 +/- 11% at rest and 74 +/- 13% after exercise (p less than 0.001). Seven of 29 patients had an abnormal RV response and 6 had an abnormal LV response. Eight had abnormal wall motion after exercise. A total of 12/29 patients (41%) had one or more abnormalities. The mean left-sided regurgitant fraction before exercise was 27 +/- 17% in 21/29 patients (72%) and 31 +/- 21% after exercise (p = ns). An additional 5 patients (17%) developed left-sided regurgitation after exercise. These findings indicate that wall motion abnormalities and abnormal RVEF and LVEF responses to exercise occur in symptomatic MVP patients. In addition, 26/29 (89.6%) had left-sided regurgitation after exercise. Since the presence of a murmur did not correlate with the presence of mitral regurgitation by RNA, then symptomatic patients with MVP should have first-pass exercise RNA to assess the presence of regurgitation at rest and after exercise. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended in MVP patients with systolic murmurs or with regurgitation. Since patients without murmurs can have regurgitation, further study is necessary to determine the need for endocarditis prophylaxis in these patients.     

Low‐grade systolic murmurs in healthy middle‐aged individuals: innocent or clinically significant? A 35‐year follow‐up study of 2014 Norwegian men

Abstract. Bodegard J, Skretteberg PT, Gjesdal K, Pyörälä K, Kjeldsen SE, Liestøl K, Erikssen G, Erikssen J (Oslo University Hospital, Oslo; University of Oslo, Oslo; University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; University of Oslo, Oslo; Oslo University Hospital, Oslo). Low‐grade systolic murmurs in healthy middle‐aged individuals: innocent or clinically significant? A 35‐year follow‐up study of 2014 Norwegian men. J Intern Med 2012; 271 : 581–588. Objective. To determine whether a low‐grade systolic murmur, found at heart auscultation, in middle‐aged healthy men influences the long‐term risk of aortic valve replacement (AVR) and death from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Setting and subjects. During 1972–1975, 2014 apparently healthy men aged 40–59 years underwent an examination programme including case history, clinical examination, blood tests and a symptom‐limited exercise ECG test. Heart auscultation was performed under standardized conditions, and murmurs were graded on a scale from I to VI. No men were found to have grade V/VI murmurs. Participants were followed for up to 35 years. Results. A total of 1541 men had no systolic murmur; 441 had low‐grade murmurs (grade I/II) and 32 had moderate‐grade murmurs (grade III/IV). Men with low‐grade murmurs had a 4.7‐fold [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1–11.1] increased age‐adjusted risk of AVR, but no increase in risk of CVD death. Men with moderate‐grade murmurs had an 89.3‐fold (95% CI 39.2–211.2) age‐adjusted risk of AVR and a 1.5‐fold (95% CI 0.8–2.5) age‐adjusted increased risk of CVD death. Conclusions. Low‐grade systolic murmur was detected at heart auscultation in 21.9% of apparently healthy middle‐aged men. Men with low‐grade murmur had an increased risk of AVR, but no increase in risk of CVD death. Only 1.6% of men had moderate‐grade murmur; these men had a very high risk of AVR and a 1.5‐fold albeit non‐significant increase in risk of CVD death.     

The possible etiology of the vibratory systolic murmur

Between January and September 1985, 476 patients underwent two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography. Left ventricular bands were noted in 104 of these individuals. Of these patients, 89 (85.6%) were referred for evaluation of a systolic murmur. In view of this high incidence of association between left ventricular bands and systolic murmurs, we decided to perform a prospective analysis on patients with the classical vibratory systolic murmur (Still's murmur) which is commonly found in children and young adults. The incidence of left ventricular bands would be compared with a group of individuals in whom no cardiac murmurs could be detected. It was hoped in this way to possibly determine whether there was a definite relationship between the vibratory systolic murmur and left ventricular bands. Echocardiographs were performed using an Advanced Technical Laboratories machine and gain settings were adjusted such that all artefacts and normal structures could easily be distinguished from the ventricular bands. The ventricular bands were divided into two types. Of significance, we felt, were those which crossed the left ventricular outflow tract and which could therefore have been responsible for the production of turbulence and thus a murmur reminiscent of the Still's murmur. This type of left ventricular band was noted in 76% of our patients with Still's murmurs as opposed to only 14% of the individuals without any murmur (p less than 0.001). This statistically significant difference led us to conclude that left ventricular bands might be the cause of the Still's murmur. Further investigation, particularly with Doppler studies would be required to confirm this interesting association.     

Evidence for progression from mild to severe mitral regurgitation in mitral valve prolapse

Little information is available concerning the progression of mild to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). This study reports 86 patients, average age 60 years, who presented with cardiac symptoms, precordial systolic murmur, severe MR and a high incidence of MVP on echocardiography (57 of 75 [75%] ) and left ventriculography (61 of 84 [73%] ). Seventy-five surgically excised mitral valves appeared grossly enlarged and floppy. Histologic studies showed extensive myxomatous changes throughout the leaflets and chordae. Eighty patients had had precordial murmurs first described at average age 34 years, but the average age at which symptoms of cardiac dysfunction appeared was 59. However, once symptoms developed, mitral valve surgery was required within 1 year in 67 of 76 patients who had undergone surgery. Atrial fibrillation, present in 48 of 86 patients (56%), or ruptured chordae tendineae, present in 39 of 76 patients (51%), may have contributed to this rapid progression and deterioration. Additionally, 13 patients had a remote history of documented infective endocarditis. Twenty-eight patients had at least 1 type of serial clinical evaluation that indicated progressive MR in all 28 patients on the basis of changing auscultatory findings (24 of 26), progressive radiographic cardiomegaly (24 of 25), echocardiographic left atrial enlargement (4.3 to 5 cm in 11 patients) and angiographically worsening MR (14 of 15). Twenty-four of these patients had evidence of MVP on at least 1 of their initial studies. Thus, mild MR due to MVP and myxomatous mitral valves is a progressive disease in some patients with MVP.     

A systolic murmur is a common presentation of aortic regurgitation detected by echocardiography

BACKGROUND: The finding of aortic regurgitation at a classical examination is a diastolic murmur. HYPOTHESIS: Aortic regurgitation is more likely to be associated with a systolic than with a diastolic murmur during routine screening by a noncardiologist physician. METHODS: In all, 243 asymptomatic patients (mean age 42 +/- 10 years) with no known cardiac disease but at risk for aortic valve disease due to prior mediastinal irradiation (> or = 35 Gy) underwent auscultation by a noncardiologist followed by echocardiography. A systolic murmur was considered benign if it was grade < or = II/VI, not holosystolic, was not heard at the apex, did not radiate to the carotids, and was not associated with a diastolic murmur. RESULTS: Of the patients included, 122 (49%) were male, and 86 (35%) had aortic regurgitation, which was trace in 20 (8%), mild in 52 (21%), and moderate in 14 (6%). A systolic murmur was common in patients with aortic regurgitation, occurring in 12 (86%) with moderate, 26 (50%) with mild, 6 (30%) with trace, and 27 (17%) with no aortic regurgitation (p < 0.0001). The systolic murmurs were classified as benign in 21 (78%) patients with mild and 8 (67%) with moderate aortic regurgitation. Diastolic murmurs were rare, occurring in two (14%) with moderate, two (4%) with mild, and three (2%) with no aortic regurgitation (p=0.15). CONCLUSIONS: An isolated systolic murmur is a common auscultatory finding by a noncardiologist in patients with moderate or milder aortic regurgitation. A systolic murmur in patients at risk for aortic valve disease should prompt a more thorough physical examination for aortic regurgitation.     

The “straight back” syndrome: Current perspective more often associated with valvular heart disease than pseudoheart disease: A prospective clinical,electrocardiographic, roentgenographic,and echocardiographic study of 50 patients.

Fifty consecutive patients (36 male, 14 female, mean age 28 years) who had heart murmurs and clinical and radiographic evidence of straight upper dorsal spine (straight back syndrome, SBS) underwent detailed clinical, electrocardiographic, roentgenographic, and echocardiographic evaluation. Palpable systolic thrill noted in one (2%) and widened S₂ with persistent splitting in 2 (4%) patients were uncommon. Murmurs were invariably systolic in nature. Those located at the base of the heart in 19 (38%) patients were ejection in type and best heard during expiration. Those located at the apex in 26 (52%) patients were either mid-, late-, or pansystolic, and often associated with midsystolic click. Five (10%) patients had both types of murmurs. Diastolic murmurs were not heard in any patient. EKGs were normal in the majority. Cardiomegaly (C:T>55%) was present in only 5 (10%) and dilatation of the main pulmonary artery in 2 (4%) patients. Thus the incidence of pseudoheart disease (PsHD) was small (14%). Echocardiograms were normal in 18 (36%) and abnormal in 32 (64%) patients. There was evidence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in 29 (58%) patients and 3 (6%) had evidence of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). In a control group of 40 age- and sex-matched patients (26 male, 14 female, mean age 29.5 years), who also had heart murmurs but lacked straight upper dorsal spine, only 7 (17.5%) had MVP and none had BAV. The difference is both clinically and statistically significant (p<0.001). It is concluded that SBS is more often associated with valvular heart disease (MVP and BAV) than PsHD. Therefore, the diagnosis of SBS should remain presumptive until echocardiography has been performed to exclude MVP and BAV. SBS patients who have valvular heart disease should receive infective endocarditis prophylaxis.     

Use of auscultation to follow patients with mitral systolic clicks and murmurs

Mitral systolic clicks and murmurs together with associated symptoms constitute a major reason for cardiologic referral. Although echocardiography with Doppler study enables characterization of the mitral valve apparatus and quantification of regurgitation, its use has resulted in an overemphasis of the technical diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse and an undervaluation of diagnosis based on physical examination. To determine the clinical significance of an auscultatory classification of mitral systolic clicks with or without precordial systolic murmurs, 1 consultant's medical records of 291 patients with these signs were reviewed. Based on initial auscultatory findings, patients were divided into: (1) single or multiple apical systolic clicks with no murmur (n = 99); (2) single or multiple apical systolic clicks and a late systolic murmur (n = 129); and (3) single or multiple apical clicks and an apical pansystolic murmur or murmur beginning in the first half of systole (n = 63). The average duration of patient follow-up was 8 years (range 1 to 30). The prognosis was excellent for patients from all 3 classes. Two cardiac-related deaths occurred: 1 each from classes 1 and 2. Mitral valve surgery was performed in 3 class 2 patients (2%) and in 2 class 3 patients (3%). No patients developed endocarditis during follow-up. Palpitations, with varying anxiety overlay, constituted a major indication for cardiologic referral in all 3 classes. Auscultatory findings were valuable to the physician for explanation and relief of patient anxiety. For patient management, use of an auscultatory classification may be preferable to the technically generated term "mitral valve prolapse."     

Incidence of innocuous thoracic murmurs in a sample of 12,009 students

We have studied a total of 12,009 school children (age range 6 to 14 years) in order to determine the incidence of thoracic innocent murmurs. 6,816 were male and 5,193 female. A initial clinical evaluation was carried out in the school and the second examination was performed in our hospital. Global incidence of innocent murmurs was 9.57% with a female/male ratio of 1.73. We divided the innocent murmurs according with Fishleder's method: mesocardial systolic murmur (62%), pulmonary systolic murmur (26%), protosystolic apical murmur (7%), "whooping" murmur (5%). Afterwards, children with murmurs were divided in two groups of age and anthropometric characteristics observing a significative increment in the incidence of mesocardial systolic murmur in children which ranged ages from 6 to 10 years (74%) and of the pulmonary systolic murmur in the group of 10 to 14 years (40%).     

Comparison of auscultation with two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography in patients with suspected mitral valve prolapse

Auscultation was compared to two-dimensional echocardiography (2D echo) and Doppler ultrasonography in 140 consecutive patients referred for evaluation for suspected mitral valve prolapse (MVP) to asses the precision of the two diagnostic methods. Ninety patients (64%) had midsystolic clicks, of which 42 (47%) had MVP by echocardiography; 6 patients (4%) had MVP by 2D echo but no click on examination. In 15 (17%) of the 90 patients, a click was heard only in the standing or squatting positions and 2D echo did not detect prolapse in the supine position in 10 (67%) of the 15. With auscultation as the reference standard for MVP, 2D echo has a sensitivity of 47% and a specificity of 89%. Of the 140 patients, 51 (36%) had systolic murmurs; Doppler detected mitral and/or tricuspid regurgitation in 26 (50%). In 23 (16%) patients, there was Doppler evidence of mitral or tricuspid regurgitation even though systolic murmurs were not heard. Auscultation shows a 53% sensitivity and 73% specificity for systolic murmurs, using Doppler ultrasonography as the reference standard. Of 48 patients with MVP by 2D echo, 15 (13%) had associated mitral regurgitation by Doppler. The results indicate that 2D echo and Doppler ultrasonography should be interpreted in concert with auscultation for the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse and for therapeutic decision making.     

The relationship between clinical and echocardiographic findings in mitral valve prolapse

Incorporating prognostically related auscultatory, M-mode, 2DE and recent Doppler echocardiographic features, the following strict criteria for establishing the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) have been advanced: 1. auscultatory; mid-to-late systolic clicks and a late systolic murmur at the apex or mid-to-late systolic clicks at the apex which move appropriately with maneuvers that alter LV volume or late systolic murmur at the apex in young patients (coinciding that a similar murmur in elderly population is non-specific for MVP); 2. two-dimensionally "targeted" M-mode criterion: marked (greater than 3 mm) late systolic buckling posterior to C-D line (moderate 2 mm late systolic buckling or 3 mm holosystolic displacement "arouse suspicion" but do not establish MVP); 3. two-dimensional echocardiographic criteria: severe bowing of leaflet(s) on the parasternal long axis and four-chamber view (mild to moderate bowing alone are unacceptable) or left atrial coaptation point; 4. Doppler echocardiographic criteria: moderate or severe Doppler mitral regurgitation with any degree of leaflet bowing or mild Doppler mitral regurgitation with at least moderate bowing of one leaflet (mild leaflet bowing and mild mitral regurgitation can be regarded as "probable MVP"). The concept of mitral valve prolapse syndrome encompasses that which was earlier described in patients with a high prevalence of symptoms. In controlled studies, however, it has become apparent that cardiac and psychiatric symptoms can be found as frequently in normal subjects as in those with MVP. These results indicate that clinicians may have erroneously diagnosed patients with MVP because of premature acceptance that MVP is the cause of a distinctive syndrome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Time analysis of mitral regurgitation in patients with mitral valve prolapse: a study by phonocardiography and Doppler techniques

To assess the timing and duration of mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), 20 subjects with mid-systolic click(s) and/or a late systolic murmur were studied using phonocardiography, two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and Doppler techniques including pulsed Doppler (PD), high pulse repetition frequency Doppler (HPRF), continuous wave Doppler (CW) and M-mode color Doppler (MD) methods and two-dimensional Doppler color flow mapping (2DD). The results were compared with those of 16 patients with a pansystolic murmur having late systolic accentuation. MVP with MR was observed in 15 of the 20 patients with mid-systolic clicks and/or a late systolic murmur and in all of the 16 patients with a pansystolic murmur. Using MD, MR signals were seen throughout systole and isovolumic relaxation period in all but one of these patients, and they were not related to the patterns of the systolic murmur. In only one, an MR signal was recorded just after the click. Five patients with a mid-systolic click lacked the findings of MVP, but two of them had MR signal only in early systole. Using PD and HPRF techniques, the timing and duration of MR signals in patients with mid-systolic clicks and/or a late systolic murmur were varied by changing the sites of the sample volume. Similarly, the timing and duration of MR signals in these patients were dependent on the ultrasonic beam direction by the CW method. In most patients with a pansystolic murmur having late systolic accentuation, however, MR signals throughout systole and the isovolumic relaxation period were demonstrated by each Doppler method. Therefore, PD, HPRF, and CW were not so efficiently sensitive or adequate techniques for investigating the timing and duration of MR, especially in patients with mid-systolic clicks and/or a late systolic murmur, who had mild or eccentric MR jets. In conclusion, 1) MR in MVP involves the entire systole and isovolumic relaxation period, 2) PD, HPRF and CW methods are not adequate for detecting mild or eccentric MR jets in patients with mid-systolic clicks and/or a late systolic murmur, and 3) MD is useful for the time analysis of MR in these patients.     

Pacemaker catheter induced systolic murmurs in two patients

Although extracardiac sounds secondary to cardiac pacing have been well known, the murmurs originating in the heart after permanent pacemaker implantation and then disappearance after exchanging a temporary to permanent lead have rarely been reported. In this paper, two patients revealing a musical systolic murmur after placement of a transvenous endocardial pacemaker in the absence of any complications were documented. Case 1: A 43-year-old man with episodes of dizziness and brady-tachycardiac atrial fibrillation. Immediately after the implantation of a temporary transvenous right ventricular pacemaker, a high-pitched systolic musical murmur was heard at the lower left sternal border. No murmur was however gullible after a permanent pacemaker implantation in this case. Case 2 was a 83-year-old female with coronary heart disease associated with sick sinus syndrome to whom a permanent transvenous right ventricular pacemaker was inserted. A musical systolic murmur occurring immediately after the procedure was best audible at the apex. Although numerous papers concerning the mechanisms of these cardiac murmurs have been reported without reaching conclusive explanations, our data based on two cases examined with Doppler echocardiography did not support the idea of tricuspid regurgitation as one of causative factors. In the first case, this murmur appeared only a temporary pacing was performed and disappeared after implantation of a permanent pacemaker lead. On the contrary, however, the 2nd case revealed after the implantation of the permanent pacemaker with a relatively rigid bipolar lead. It is concluded that these murmurs might be produced by vibrations caused by the pacing catheters and physical properties could be related the mechanism of this phenomenon.     

Systolic murmurs in pregnancy: value of echocardiographic assessment

A systolic murmur discovered in antenatal care is the most common reason for cardiological assessment during pregnancy. We have assessed the value of clinical and echocardiographic assessment in 50 consecutive patients who were referred to our cardiac clinic following the discovery of a cardiac murmur at an antenatal clinic. Most of the murmurs occurred at 10-12 weeks gestation; 46 subjects had cardiac murmurs confirmed at the cardiac clinic, of whom 16 gave a history suggestive of a previous cardiovascular disorder. Of the 16 patients, 13 had been found to have a murmur earlier in life which was thought to be of no clinical significance. Complications during pregnancy were infrequent. The most frequent murmur discovered was a soft midsystolic murmur heard with greatest intensity at the left sternal edge. The results of electrocardiography and echocardiography were not helpful in assisting with the diagnosis or substantially altering antenatal management in these patients. We do not feel that echocardiography has an important role in the assessment of systolic murmurs in pregnancy in the absence of other clinical or ECG abnormalities.     

Hepatic Bruits in Malignant Liver Tumors

There have been few reports concerning hepatic bruits in malignant liver tumors, especially in those other than hepatocellular carcinoma. Lately we noticed hepatic bruits in several cases of malignant liver tumors. The murmurs were confirmed by sound recordings. In cases of hepatocellular carcinoma the murmurs were continuous or continuous with late systolic accentuation. In a case of cholangiocarcinoma of the liver the murmur was continuous with late systolic accentuation and in a case of metastatic liver carcinoma it was systolic. These murmurs were considered to be caused by various mechanisms and some of them are discussed in this paper. Hepatic bruits would be a useful aid in diagnosing hepatic tumors.     

Clinical significance of the apical late systolic ejection murmur: A new phonocardiographic sign indicating dynamic mid-left ventricular obstruction

Systolic ejection murmurs of the left heart usually have their peak during early to mid-systole. Few reports have addressed ejection murmurs with their peak at late systole. We evaluated the clinical significance of an apical systolic ejection murmur with a peak intensity during late systole using Doppler and two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography and phonocardiography. The apical late systolic ejection murmur was observed in 9 of 13 consecutive patients with mid-left ventricular obstruction. We investigated the ejection flow velocity and the timing of maximum velocity at the three different sites of the left ventricle, the left ventricular cavity shape, and the timing of the peak murmur intensity in these nine patients (late-murmur group). The same parameters were also examined in 8 consecutive patients with mid-systolic ejection murmurs (mid-murmur group), 10 with early systolic ejection murmurs (early-murmur group), and 7 controls without murmurs. Patients with aortic stenosis were excluded. The mid-ventricular ejection flow velocity was significantly higher in the late-murmur group than in the other three groups; that of the outflow tract was markedly higher in the mid-murmur group. The ejection flow velocity at the aortic orifice of patients in the early-murmur group was significantly high compared with that of the controls. The timing of the peak murmur intensity in each group correlated with that of the peak flow signal at the corresponding site with maximum velocity. In all patients in the late-murmur group, 2-D echocardiography revealed a systolic narrowing of the cavity at the mid-ventricle. Amyl nitrite inhalation induced a marked increase in the intensity of the murmur without evidence of appearing or increasing mitral regurgitation. It was concluded that the apical ejection murmur with a late systolic peak intensity is a new phonocardiographic sign indicative of dynamic, mid-left ventricular obstruction. This murmur should be differentiated from the mitral regurgitant murmur.     

A cardiac murmur depending on the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

The case of a girl is presented with the WPW syndrome, which spontaneously intermits with a nodal rhythm and where a cardiac systolic murmur is linked only with the WPW beats. Pharmacologic tests demonstrated a close relationship between the type of ventricular excitation and the presence of the cardiac murmur. This case indicates that ventricular pre-excitation can provoke a functional cardiac murmur and calls for caution in ascribing systolic murmurs in patients with WPW syndrome to organic heart disease.     

Phonocardiography of the human fetus

From our work evidence has been obtained of the variability of normal heart sounds before and after birth. An early systolic murmur is almost universal in early infancy, according to our criteria for the recognition of a murmur.Among thirty-three subjects upon whom fetal heart sound observations were made, twelve presented no murmurs, seventeen showed an early systolic murmur only. Seven showed other systolic and diastolic murmurs which apparently could not be used as indications of congenital heart lesions as seen after birth, and may represent currents through the patent foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus.One case illustrated certain criteria of a congenital heart lesion before birth. These criteria agreed in general with those of Hoehne but were more specific in recognition of the particular valve lesion noted in this case, namely pulmonic stenosis. The unique feature of this case was a high-pitched murmur throughout the whole of systole. This was totally unlike any of the murmurs recorded by us either in children or adults in cases other than those diagnosed clinically as classical pulmonic stenosis.A surprising fact disclosed in this investigation was that in the normal fetus with a patent foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus, murmurs were not consistently found. Presumably it requires either abnormal pressure relationships, developmental defects occurring relatively early in intrauterine life, or both, to produce the auditory signs of a congenital lesion of the recognizable patent ductus arteriousus type as seen after birth. This theory is not original but receives support from the observations here recorded.