Myxomatous degeneration of the heart valves in blacks.

Ten cases of myxomatous degeneration of the heart valves in Black subjects are described. The striking features, compared with other series, were the comparative youth of the patients and the predominance of aortic valve involvement. There was also a significant percentage of control subjects with excess mucopolysaccharides in the heart valves or aorta. These pathological findings confirm clinical observations previously made by other workers.