Assessment of Doppler color flow mapping in quantification of aortic regurgitation--correlations and influencing factors

Real-time two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography (Doppler color flow mapping) offers useful information on valvular regurgitation. In order to quantify aortic regurgitation by Doppler color flow mapping, this study determined the relationships between regurgitant jet dimensions and angiographic grades in 100 patients, and between regurgitant jet dimensions and regurgitant fractions or regurgitant volumes in 47. Doppler data were obtained using 4 different echo windows, parasternal long and short axes, and apical two- and four-chamber views. Maximum jet area, length and diameter taken from all available views were examined in relation to angiographic grades, regurgitant fractions and regurgitant volumes. Moreover, we analyzed the technical, biological and hemodynamic factors influencing these relationships. Significant correlations were found between all maximum jet dimensions and angiographic grade (diameter, r = 0.641; length, r = 0.549; area, r = 0.611; p less than 0.01). Means and standard deviations for maximum jet dimensions according to angiographic grading revealed significant differences between all grades except in jet length between grades 3 and 4. However, these relations tended to be influenced by various factors: equipment, echo window, shape of jet, coexistence with mitral stenosis or aortic stenosis, left ventricular size, left ventricular stroke volume, and diastolic blood pressure. On the other hand, with regurgitant fractions and regurgitant volumes, maximum jet dimensions correlated well (diameter, r = 0.614 and 0.567; length, r = 0.769 and 0.767; area, r = 0.791 and 0.773; p less than 0.01) when data associated with atrial fibrillation were excluded. Thus significant correlations between regurgitant jet dimensions in Doppler color flow mapping and angiographic grades can be obtained in all patients despite various factors influencing jet dimensions. Better correlations with regurgitant fractions or regurgitant volumes may be expected in patients with normal sinus rhythm.     

Quantitation of Doppler color flow jet areas for mitral regurgitation in children: angiographic correlation.

Eighteen patients with chronic isolated rheumatic mitral regurgitation aged between 7 and 19 years (mean age +/-SD, 12.69+/-3.47 years) were analyzed with color Doppler imaging. Sixteen patients were performed cardiac catheterization within 24 h. Jets were classified as eccentric and central. Regurgitant jet area and its ratio to left atrial area and body surface area were measured by Doppler color flow imaging. Regurgitant volume and regurgitant fractions were calculated with angiography. There was a good correlation between regurgitant jet area and angiographic grade of mitral regurgitation (P<0.01). The correlation between regurgitant jet area/left atrial area ratios and angiographic grade of mitral regurgitation was limited (P<0.01). There was excellent correlation between regurgitant jet area/body surface area and angiographic regurgitant fraction (r = 0.85; P<0.001). There was also a good correlation between regurgitant jet area and regurgitant fraction (r = 0.82; P<0.001). However, the relation of regurgitant jet area/left atrial area to regurgitant fraction was weak (r = 0.72; P<0.01). In conclusion, the measurement of regurgitant fraction and its ratios to left atrial area and body surface area by color Doppler flow imaging can predict the angiographic severity in children who have even eccentric regurgitant jets.     

Can signal intensity of the continuous wave Doppler regurgitant jet estimate severity of mitral regurgitation?

Visual estimates of the intensity of the continuous wave (CW) Doppler regurgitant jet signal have been used to estimate the severity of valvular regurgitation. Theoretically, the strength of the reflected Doppler signal is a function of the number of scatterers. To test this approach quantitatively, free jets were produced in 27 experiments using a power injector and cornstarch suspension varying in concentration from 1% to 3%. Flow volume was varied from 5 to 15 ml, and orifice diameter varied from 2.5 to 10 mm. Machine settings were kept constant. Also, 22 patients with mitral regurgitation (MR)--5 mild, 11 moderate, and 6 severe by angiography--were studied. Average signal intensity under the CW Doppler flow curve was calculated using a computer image processor. In MR patients, average regurgitant flow (RF) intensity was compared with average mitral forward flow (FF) signal intensity. (1) The intensity under the CW flow signal in the free jet experiments correlated well with injection volume (r greater than 0.98). (2) RF average signal intensity did not correlate with angiographic MR severity (r = 0.21), but the ratio of RF to FF average signal intensity did correlate with MR severity (r = 0.73). (3) The sensitivity and the specificity of an RF/FF ratio greater than 0.65 for angiographically severe mitral regurgitation were both 83%. (4) The sensitivity and specificity of an RF/FF ratio less than 0.50 for angiographic mild mitral regurgitation were both 80%. The ratio of regurgitant to forward mitral flow CW Doppler signal intensity appears to be an accurate and clinically applicable method for estimating the severity of mitral regurgitation.     

Determination of the severity of tricuspid valve insufficiency using Doppler echocardiography

In 187 patients with combined mitral and aortic valve lesions, to assess and quantify tricuspid regurgitation, biplane right ventriculograms were obtained and Doppler echocardiography performed for study of the tricuspid valve and right atrium. After definition of regurgitant turbulance across the tricuspid valve with pulsed Doppler, on mapping the right atrium the maximal length of regurgitant flow in the right ventricular inflow tract was determined from the short-axis parasternal view. In seven of 70 patients in whom angiographically tricuspid regurgitation was not detected, Doppler echocardiography demonstrated holosystolic insufficiency of the valve. In all patients with the angiographic diagnosis of tricuspid regurgitation grades I to III, this lesion was also documented Doppler echocardiographically with only slight divergence of the regurgitant area in the right atrium as viewed from the short-axis parasternal transducer position. In all patients, the tricuspid valve was morphologically unremarkable. In 32 patients, in agreement with angiographic findings, grade I tricuspid regurgitation was diagnosed; in seven patients the angiographic severity was overestimated by one grade. In 44 patients, in agreement with angiographic findings, tricuspid regurgitation grade II was detected; in four patients the Doppler echocardiographic severity was overestimated and five patients underestimated by one grade. In 23 patients with grade II tricuspid regurgitation angiographically, there was agreement with Doppler echocardiographic findings; in two patients the severity was underestimated by one grade.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Quantitative assessment of mitral regurgitation by Doppler color flow imaging: angiographic and hemodynamic correlations

This study was performed to test the hypothesis that measurements of jet area by Doppler color flow imaging can predict the angiographic severity and hemodynamic consequences of mitral regurgitation. Doppler color flow imaging was performed in 47 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and left ventriculography. The jet area was measured as the largest clearly definable flow disturbance in the parasternal and apical views, and expressed as the maximal jet area, the mean of the largest jet area (average jet area) in two views or as the ratio of these measures to left atrial area. Correlation of all Doppler color flow measurements with angiographic grades of mitral regurgitation were comparable, maximal jet area being closest at r = 0.76. A maximal jet area greater than 8 cm2 predicted severe mitral regurgitation with a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 94%, whereas a maximal jet area less than 4 cm2 predicted mild mitral regurgitation with a sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 75%, respectively. All patients with an average jet area greater than 8 cm2 manifested severe mitral regurgitation. However, jet area measurements showed limited correlation with regurgitant volume and fraction (r = 0.55 and 0.62, respectively) for maximal jet area, and were not predictive of hemodynamic abnormalities, including those of pulmonary wedge pressure, stroke volume or ventricular volumes. Thus, in patients with mitral regurgitation, maximal jet area from Doppler color flow imaging provides a simple measurement that predicts angiographic grade, but manifests a weak correlation with regurgitant volume and does not predict hemodynamic dysfunction.     

Assessment of severity of mitral regurgitation by measuring regurgitant jet width at its origin with transesophageal Doppler color flow imaging.

BACKGROUND. The ability of transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography to provide high-resolution images of both cardiac structure and blood flow in real time is advantageous for many clinical purposes. This study was performed to determine the utility of the regurgitant jet width at its origin measured by transesophageal Doppler color flow imaging in the assessment of severity of mitral regurgitation. METHODS AND RESULTS. Sixty-three consecutive patients with mitral regurgitation underwent transesophageal color Doppler examination, and the diameter of regurgitant jet at its origin was measured. Both right and left cardiac catheterizations were performed within 24 hours of Doppler studies, and angiographic grading of mitral regurgitation and regurgitant stroke volume were evaluated. There was a close relation between the jet diameter at its origin measured by transesophageal Doppler color flow imaging and the angiographic grade of mitral regurgitation (r = 0.86, p less than 0.001). A jet diameter of 5.5 mm or more identified severe mitral regurgitation (grade III or IV) with a sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 92%, and positive and negative predictive values of 88% and 95%, respectively. In 31 patients with isolated mitral regurgitation, the jet diameter correlated well with the regurgitant stroke volume determined by a combined hemodynamic-angiographic method (r = 0.85, p less than 0.001). A jet diameter of 5.5 mm or more identified a regurgitant stroke volume of 60 ml or more with a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 93%, and positive and negative predictive values of 94% and 87%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. The regurgitant jet width at its origin measured by transesophageal Doppler color flow imaging provides a simple and useful method of measuring the severity of mitral regurgitation, and it may allow differentiation between mild and severe mitral regurgitation.     

A new method for quantitation of mitral regurgitation based on color flow Doppler imaging of flow convergence proximal to regurgitant orifice

BACKGROUND. Imaging of the flow convergence region (FCR) proximal to a regurgitant orifice has been shown to provide a method for quantifying the regurgitant flow rate. According to the continuity principle, the FCR is constituted by concentric hemispheric isovelocity surfaces centered at the orifice. The flow rate is constant across all isovelocity surfaces and equals the flow rate through the orifice. For any isovelocity surface the flow rate (Q) is given by: Q = 2 pi r2 Vr, where 2 pi r2 is the area of the hemisphere and Vr is the velocity at the radial distance (r) from the orifice. METHODS AND RESULTS. We studied 52 consecutive patients with mitral regurgitation (mean age, 49 years; age range, 21-66 years) verified by left ventricular angiography using color flow mapping. The FCR r was measured as the distance between the first aliasing limit--at a Nyquist limit obtained by zero-shifting the velocity cutoff to 38 cm/sec--and the regurgitant orifice. Seven patients without evidence of an FCR had only grade 1+ mitral regurgitation angiographically. There was a significant relation between the Doppler-derived maximal instantaneous regurgitant flow rate and the angiographic degree of mitral regurgitation in the other patients (rs = 0.91, p less than 0.001). The regurgitant flow rate by Doppler also correlated with the angiographic regurgitant volume (r = 0.93, SEE = 123 ml/sec) in the 15 patients in normal sinus rhythm and without other regurgitant lesions in whom it could be measured. The correlation between regurgitant jet area within the left atrium and the angiographic grade was only fair (rs = 0.75, p less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS. Color flow Doppler provides new velocity information about the proximal FCR in patients with mitral regurgitation. According to the continuity principle, the maximal instantaneous regurgitant flow rate, obtained with the FCR method, may provide a quantitative estimate of the severity of mitral regurgitation, which is relatively independent of technical factors.     

Quantification of aortic regurgitation using Doppler imaging

Summary Aortic insufficiency induces the development of a jet within the left ventricular outflow tract. The cross sectional area of this jet at its origin is the major determinant of the severity of the regurgitation. M mode Doppler imaging reportedly allows the measurement of jet diameter. This study was designed to evaluate the quantification of aortic regurgitation using a measurement of the jet diameter by M mode Doppler imaging. The left ventricular outflow tract of 32 patients was imaged using either a multigate pulsed Doppler velocimeter or color flow mapping system (Hewlett Packard). The jet diameter was compared to a 4 grade semiquantification derived from supravalvular aortography. Adequate imaging was obtained in the 32 patients. Four of them had no regurgitation: no diastolic flow image could be found during their Doppler investigation. A clear jet image was obtained in the 28 remaining patients. We found a close relationship between the jet diameter (jd in mm) and the angiographic grade (ag): jd = 2.4 + 6.1 ag, r = 0.88, the most significant differences being found between grade 0 and grade 1, and grade 1 and grade 2. In conclusion, direct M mode measurement of the regurgitant jet of aortic insufficiency at its origin offers an additional approach of the severity of the leak.     

Three-dimensional Doppler. Techniques and clinical applications.

AIMS: Colour Doppler is the most widely used technique for assessing valve disease, but eccentric regurgitant jets cannot be visualized and measured by conventional 2D techniques. We have developed a new procedure for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of colour Doppler signals. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty patients with mitral regurgitation underwent transoesophageal echocardiography and 3D acquisition. The severity of mitral regurgitation was assessed by angiography and the regurgitant volumes were measured by pulsed Doppler. The jet areas were calculated by planimetry from conventional colour Doppler; the jet volumes were obtained by 3D Doppler. A higher degree of mitral regurgitation was found in the patients with eccentric jets. While jet areas showed poor correlation with regurgitant volumes (r = 0.61), jet volumes correlated significantly with regurgitant volumes (r = 0.93; P < 0.001). While jet areas failed to identify patients with different grades of regurgitation, jet volumes could so discriminate. CONCLUSIONS: 3D Doppler revealed new patterns of regurgitant flow and allowed a more accurate semiquantitative assessment of complex asymmetrical regurgitant jets. Three-dimensional colour Doppler has a great potential for becoming a reference method for the assessment of patients with heart valve disease.     

Effective regurgitant orifice area: A noninvasive Doppler development of an old hemodynamic concept

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility, relation to other methods and significance of the effective regurgitant orifice area measurement.Background. Assessment of the severity of valvular regurgitation (effective regurgitant orifice area) has not been implemented in clinical practice but can be made by Doppler echocardiography.Methods. Effective regurgitant orifice area was calculated by Doppler echocardiography as the ratio of regurgitant volume/ regurgitant jet time-velocity integral and compared with color flow Doppler mapping, angiography, surgical classification, regurgitant fraction and variables of volume overload.Results. In 210 consecutive patients examined prospectively, feasibility improved from the early to the late experience (65% to 95%). Effective regurgitant orifice area was 28 ± 23 mm²(mean ± SD) for aortic regurgitation (32 patients), 22 ± 13 mm²for ischemic/functional mitral regurgitation (50 patients) and 41 ± 32 mm²for organic mitral regurgitation (82 patients). Significant correlations were found between effective regurgitant orifice and mitral jet area by color flow Doppler mapping (r = 0.68 and r = 0.63, p < 0.0001, respectively) and angiographic grade (r = 0.77, p = 0.0004). Effective regurgitant orifice area in surgically determined moderate and severe lesions was markedly different in mitral regurgitation (35 ± 12 and 75 ± 33 mm², respectively, p = 0.009) and in aortic regurgitation (21 ± 8 and 38 ± 5 mm², respectively, p = 0.08). Strong correlations were found between effective regurgitant orifice area and variables reflecting volume overload. A logarithmic regression was found between effective regurgitant orifice area and regurgitant fraction, underlining the complementarity of these indexes.Conclusions. Calculation of effective regurgitant orifice area is a noninvasive Doppler development of an old hemodynamic concept, allowing assessment of the lesion severity of valvular regurgitation. Feasibility is excellent with experience. Effective regurgitant orifice area is an important and clinically significant index of regurgitation severity. It brings additive information to other quantitative indexes and its measurement should be implemented in the comprehensive assessment of valvular regurgitation.     

Grading of the aortic valve regurgitation with the color Doppler echocardiography

This study was undertaken to assess whether various parameters of the extension of aortic regurgitation with color Doppler imaging are comparable with angiographic techniques for classification of severity. In 39 patients with aortic regurgitation, 14 women and 25 men, mean age 53 +/- 14 years, Doppler echocardiographic examinations were performed prospectively for determination of length, width and area of the maximal extension of regurgitant flow (Figure 1). Angiographic assessment of severity showed grade I regurgitation in nine, grade II in 14, grade III in twelve, and grade IV in four patients. The length of regurgitant flow in the color Doppler image showed an increasing tendency with increasing angiographic severity (r = 0.38, SEE = 13 mm), however, for various grades of severity, there was clear overlap. The area of regurgitation, similarly, due to substantial overlap, correlated only weakly with the angiographic data (r = 0.54, SEE = 196 mm2). To date, there is not theoretical basis for a correlation of the length and area of regurgitant flow with the severity and experimental studies have shown that there is no simple relationship. The best correlation was found for the width of the regurgitant flow (r = 0.63, SEE = 3 mm), however, here as well, there was clear overlap of data such that there was no statistically significant difference between grades II and III. Unequivocal differentiation of the values could only be achieved between grades I and IV. Based on a width of 7 mm, high-grade regurgitation could be detected with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 74%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The mitral regurgitation index: an echocardiographic guide to severity

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to develop a semiquantitative index of mitral regurgitation severity suitable for use in daily clinical practice and research.

BACKGROUND

There is no simple method for quantification of mitral regurgitation (MR). The MR Index is a semiquantitative guide to MR severity. The MR Index is a composite of six echocardiographic variables: color Doppler regurgitant jet penetration and proximal isovelocity surface area, continuous wave Doppler characteristics of the regurgitant jet and tricuspid regurgitant jet-derived pulmonary artery pressure, pulse wave Doppler pulmonary venous flow pattern and two-dimensional echocardiographic estimation of left atrial size.

METHODS

Consecutive patients (n = 103) with varying grades of MR, seen in the Adult Echocardiography Laboratory at UCSF, were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were evaluated for the six variables, each variable being scored on a four point scale from 0 to 3. The reference standards for MR were qualitative echocardiographic evaluation by an expert and quantitation of regurgitant fraction using two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. A subgroup of patients with low ejection fraction (EF <50%) were also analyzed.

RESULTS

The MR Index increased in proportion to MR severity with a significant difference among the three grades in both normal and low EF groups (F = 130 and F = 42, respectively, p < 0.0001). The MR Index correlated with regurgitant fraction (r = 0.76, p < 0.0001). An MR Index ≥2.2 identified 26/29 patients with severe MR (sensitivity = 90%, specificity = 88%, PPV = 79%). No patient with severe MR had an MR Index <1.8 and no patient with mild MR had an MR Index >1.7.

CONCLUSIONS

The MR Index is a simple semiquantitative estimate of MR severity, which seems to be useful in evaluating MR in patients with a low EF.     

Color M-mode regurgitant flow propagation velocity: a new echocardiographic method for grading of mitral regurgitation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of mitral regurgitation color M-mode regurgitant flow propagation velocity (RFPV) in grading mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS: We prospectively examined 52 consecutive patients with grades of MR mild in 10 patients, moderate in 19 patients, and severe in 23 patients with quantitative pulse Doppler echocardiography. MR was evaluated by vena contracta diameter (VCD), regurgitant jet area (RJA), and RFPV. These qualitative and quantitative methods were compared with the pulsed Doppler quantitative flow measurements and concordance of these three methods was determined. RESULTS: The mean RFPV for mild, moderate, and severe MR were 26.4 +/- 7 cm/sec, 43.3 +/- 7 cm/sec, and 60.3 +/- 7.3 respectively (P < 0.001). RFPV is highly sensitive and moderately specific in differentiating mild and severe MR from other subgroups. Sensitivity and specificity were 92.1%-64.3% for mild and 100%-68.5% for severe MR, respectively. Significant correlation was observed between pulse Doppler quantitative grades, RFPV, VC, and RJA (P < 0.0001, r = 0.87; P < 0.0001, r = -0.84; P < 0.0001, r = 0.76, respectively). CONCLUSION: This results show that RFPV is a reliable and simple semiquantitative new method that can be used for determining severity of MR.     

Semiquantitative grading of mitral regurgitation by color-coded Doppler echocardiography

We evaluated patients with mitral regurgitation by color-coded Doppler echocardiography using a semiquantitative score system, which is useful in the clinical setting, by providing rapid discrimination between mild, moderate and severe regurgitation. The study was performed in 42 patients (19 female, 23 male) mean age 58 years, range 23-75 years with mitral regurgitation of different etiology. Color-coded Doppler measurements were compared to angiographic findings using a three point score system. In addition to such parameters as maximal jet length, area and the ratio jet area/left atrial area, we also considered the duration of regurgitant flow. The best correlation was obtained for the maximal area of the jet multiplied by the duration of regurgitant flow/cycle length (r = 0.88), determined in the apical plane where the jet was best visualized. For the parameter area of jet alone, the correlation coefficient was 0.81, for the length of the jet the value was r = 0.65 and comparison of the areas of jet and left atrium gave a coefficient of 0.77. A clear separation between mild and severe regurgitation was observed only for the parameter calculated by multiplying the area of the jet by the duration of mitral regurgitation. In only 7% of the patients with moderate and severe regurgitation could we observe an overlap. This parameter, therefore, represents a useful method for estimating in a semiquantitative manner the severity of mitral regurgitation by color-coded Doppler echocardiography.     

Quantification of aortic regurgitation using continuous and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography

In a prospective blind study, continuous and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography were used to predict the severity of angiographically assessed aortic regurgitation in 36 patients. High quality continuous wave spectral recordings of the regurgitant jet were obtained in 32 patients but four patients with mild aortic regurgitation had dropout of high velocity signals precluding accurate assessment. The deceleration slope of the peak to end-diastolic velocity measured by continuous wave Doppler, and pulsed wave Doppler mapping of the regurgitant jet in the left ventricle were compared with angiographic severity. The deceleration slope was significantly steeper in patients with severe rather than mild or moderate aortic regurgitation (3.65 +/- 1.04 vs. 1.89 +/- 0.42 vs. 1.52 +/- 0.59 m sec-2). A decay slope of greater than 3 m sec-2 was observed only in patients with 3+ or 4+ aortic regurgitation and a decay slope less than 1.2 m sec-2 was seen only in mild 1+ aortic regurgitation but there was considerable overlap between groups, making it difficult in individual cases to assess severity on the basis of the continuous wave deceleration slope. The pulsed wave Doppler technique was more time consuming, added little to the continuous wave Doppler assessment and underestimated severe regurgitation in almost 50% of cases. Hence, there are significant problems using either Doppler technique in quantitatively assessing aortic regurgitation.     

Pulsed Doppler echocardiographic indices for assessing mitral regurgitation.

Pulsed Doppler indices were devised in order to grade the severity of mitral regurgitation on a quantitative basis. Indices were obtained by mapping the regurgitant jet by recording abnormal systolic Doppler signals detected on a "yes/no" basis using a 3 MHz pulsed Doppler velocimeter associated with a cross sectional real time ultrasonic scanner. Combined information from two echographic planes was used to take into account the geometrical three dimensional configuration of the jet. The following dimensions of the jet were measured: (a) the length and the height in the long axis view of the left atrium (long axis regurgitant index (LARI), 0.5 X length X height); (b) the width at the annulus in the short axis view (short axis regurgitant index (SARI); (c) the total regurgitant index (TRI) calculated as the product of LARI multiplied by SARI. Sixteen normal subjects and 94 patients including 46 cases of mitral regurgitation confirmed by angiography (32 of whom proceeded to surgery) were investigated. The diagnostic sensitivity was 91% and the specificity 94%. The jet was detected in 76% of cases. Indices were correlated with independently performed angiographic grading on a three point scale. The best linear correlation was obtained for the TRI; mean values were significantly increased for each grade of severity. Correlations with invasive procedures showed an 87% success rate for the Doppler prediction of the involved regurgitant leaflet(s) and of the anatomical site of the lesion at the annulus. In addition, an abnormal diastolic signal was found in five of the eight patients with ruptured chordae and also a decreased percentage of systolic shortening of the annulus diameter in patients with mitral regurgitation compared with those without.     

Assessment of mitral regurgitation by biplane transesophageal color Doppler flow mapping

To test the role of recently developed biplane transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography in the assessment of severity of mitral regurgitation, we examined 51 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and left ventriculography. Transesophageal color Doppler flow imaging detected mitral regurgitation in all 32 patients proved to have this lesion. In 10 of 16 patients without mitral regurgitation by angiography, mitral regurgitation signals were detected by transesophageal color Doppler flow imaging. Thus, the sensitivity and specificity of transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography for the detection of mitral regurgitation were 100% and 38%, respectively. There was some correlation between the regurgitant jet area from the longitudinal plane and angiographic grading. An improved angiographic correlation was achieved with the regurgitant jet area from the transverse plane. The best correlation with angiography was obtained when the maximum regurgitant jet area from two planes (the greater of the two measurements, each from a different plane) was considered. There was a significant difference in the maximum regurgitant jet area between none and mild (p less than 0.01), mild and moderate (p less than 0.001), and moderate and severe (p less than 0.01) mitral regurgitation. The maximum regurgitant jet area of less than 1.5 cm2 predicted the angiographic grading as none with a sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 94%, respectively. The maximum regurgitant jet of between 1.5 and 4 cm2 predicted the angiographic grading as mild with a sensitivity and specificity of 82% and 95%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Value and limitations of color Doppler flow mapping in the detection and semiquantification of valvular regurgitation

Summary We compared color Doppler flow mapping data to angiographic data in 294 patients with suspected valvular regurgitation. Thirty-one patients had rheumatic mitral regurgitation and 37 had mitral regurgitation due to mitral valve prolapse by angiography. Ten patients had no angiographic regurgitation (4 rheumatic, 6 prolapse). The remaining patients included 86 with suspected aortic regurgitation and 130 with suspected tricuspid regurgitation. Angiographically 74 had aortic regurgitation and 111 tricuspid regurgitation. The maximum size of regurgitant jets was evaluated in each patient by color flow mapping. The width of the jets was also taken into consideration. In 29 of the 31 with rheumatic regurgitation and 67 of the 74 with aortic regurgitation by angiography, abnormal regurgitant signals were detected by color flow mapping. In both rheumatic mitral regurgitation and aortic regurgitation, color Doppler estimation of the jets correlated well with angiographic grading. The regurgitant jets in these regurgitation were not eccentric. In the 37 with mitral regurgitation in mitral valve prolapse by left ventriculography, abnormal jets were detected in 35 by color flow mapping. However, the regurgitant jets were eccentric and color Doppler estimation of the jets correlated poorly with angiographic grading. In patients with tricuspid regurgitation, color Doppler grading of regurgitation correlated poorly with right ventriculographic grading. A color Doppler underestimation was observed in 48%. In conclusion, color Doppler flow mapping is useful in the noninvasive detection and semiquantification of rheumatic mitral regurgitation and aortic regurgitation having non-eccentric jets, although this technique often underestimates the severity of regurgitation in mitral valve prolapse.     

Evaluation of mitral regurgitation by cine magnetic resonance imaging

We used cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess mitral regurgitation (MR) in 40 patients with coronary and/or valvular disease and 10 normal subjects and compared results to pulsed (n = 30) or color flow Doppler mapping (n = 20). Mitral regurgitation produced a dynamic signal void in the left atrium in systole in 15 of 16 patients with MR by pulsed Doppler and in an additional 15 of 16 patients whose MR was demonstrated by color flow Doppler. There were no false positives (sensitivity 94%, specificity 100% for both). The ratio of single-plane, maximal jet area to left atrial area was used to grade MR severity with mild defined as less than 20%, moderate between 20 and 40% and severe greater than 40%. Cine MRI classification was identical to pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 26 of 30 patients and to color flow Doppler in 16 of 20 patients with no differences of greater than 1 grade. Cine MRI consistently depicted smaller flow disturbances than pulsed Doppler (slope = 0.65) or color flow Doppler (slope = 0.60). Nonetheless, the cine MRI area ratio correlated well with pulsed Doppler (r = 0.78) and with color flow Doppler (r = 0.74). Thus, planar analysis of cine MRI in patients with MR of varying severity gave results that were similar to Doppler echocardiography. At present, for routine clinical assessment of MR, the benefits of cine MRI may be limited to patients in whom transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is not adequate.     

Vena contracta width as a simple method of assessing mitral valve regurgitation. Comparison with Doppler quantitative methods

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Quantitative Doppler echocardiography and proximal flow convergence methods facilitate quantification of regurgitant volume (RV), regurgitant fraction (RF) and the measurement of effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) to define mitral regurgitation (MR) severity. Vena contracta width (VCW) has been proposed as a simple, accurate marker of MR, and is instrumental in predicting the angiographic severity of valvular regurgitation. The study aim was to compare VCW with quantitative Doppler methods and angiography for assessing MR. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with MR (50 males; mean age 54 +/- 8 years; range: 34-84 years) were included. The etiology of MR was coronary artery disease, infective endocarditis, rheumatic disease, dilated cardiomyopathy or mitral valve prolapse. Exclusion criteria included aortic stenosis and/or aortic insufficiency, mitral stenosis, mechanical prostheses and atrial fibrillation. RV and ERO estimated by the proximal isovelocity surface area method (PISA), and RF calculated by Doppler, were compared with VCW measured by color Doppler. The angiographic severity of MR was classified on a four-point scale, in compliance with Sellers' criteria. RESULTS: A good correlation was found between VCW and ERO (r2 = 0.70, p <0.001), RV (r2 = 0.73, p <0.001), RF (r2 = 0.71, p <0.001) and angiographic grade (r2 = 0.72, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: VCW measured by color Doppler correlates well with MR severity. In addition, VCW is a simple, reproducible quantitative measurement of MR, and is recommended for use in the non-invasive assessment of the condition.