Absence of the Physiologic Dorsal Kyphosis

Abstract

The absence of the normal kyphotic curvature of the thoracic spine or "straight back syndrome" - has recently been recognized as a cause of mistakenly diagnosed heart disease. The condition appears similar to pectus excavatum, where mild hemodynamic alterations, generally not sufficient to produce cardiac failure, may be present. In this report the clinical, hemodynamic and laboratory findings of 7 cases of "straight back syndrome " are described. The roentgenogram and ecg were normal or showed changes due to rotation or displacement of the heart. The hemodynamic studies revealed a mild systolic pressure gradient across the pulmonic valve in 1 case (in the presence of normal right ventricular pressure) and minor abnormalities of the diastolic pressure curve in the right ventricle in 2 cases.