经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术后脉冲多普勒肺动脉频谱时间间期的测定（1）

本研究比较了３５例以二尖瓣狭窄为主的风湿性心脏病患者经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术（ＰＢＭＶ）前后的肺动脉频谱时间间期的改变。结果表明，ＰＢＭＶ术后右室射血前期（ＲＰＥＰ）及ＲＰＥＰ／ＲＶＥＴ明显减小，ＡＴ／ＲＰＥＰ增大；而加速时间（ＡＴ），右室射血期（ＲＶＥＴ），减速时间（ＤＴ）及ＡＴ／ＤＴ则无明显改变。ＰＢＭＶ前后ＲＰＥＰ／ＲＶＥＴ的改变与二维超声心动图测量的二尖瓣口面积改变呈正相关（ｒ＝０．４９６，ｐ＝０．０１），但与Ｇｏｒｌｉｎ公式计算的二尖瓣口面积改变不相关。我们认为ＰＢＭＶ后脉冲多普勒肺动脉频谱时间间期测定有一定变化。     

超声心动图在二尖瓣球囊成形术中应用价值的研究

本文在１５例经皮穿刺二尖瓣球翼成形术（ＰＢＭＶ）中应用超声心动图对导管装置进行监视和引导。术中二维超声心动日不仅能清晰显示左心房、右心房、房间隔和二尖瓣等心脏结构，而且也可显示穿刺针、球囊导管，其中６０％（９／１５）的病例可清晰显示穿刺针穿房间隔过程，所有病例均可清晰显示球囊导管通过并扩张狭窄的二尖瓣口的经过。术中及时结合二锥、频谱和彩色多普勒仔细观察扩张前后二尖瓣口面积、舒张期二尖瓣口峰值跨瓣压及二尖瓣返流的变化，可较准确评价扩张效果。表明：超声心动图是ＰＢＭＶ术中直观、快速、简便的评价疗效的手段。但经胸壁超声仍有一定的局限性，只能部分取代常规的Ｘ线透视。     

彩色多普勒超声心动图在经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术中的应用

彩色多普勒超声心动图在经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术中的应用山东省千佛山医院（２５００１４）乔建华，周聊生，娄兹谟１９９１年以来，我们将彩色多普勒超声心动图检测用于二尖瓣球囊成形术（ＰＢＭＶ），用其术前确定二尖瓣病变程度，术中引导球囊导管位置，术后评价疗效，共...     

经皮球囊导管二尖瓣成形术治疗风湿性二尖瓣狭窄的长期随 …

目的 评价经皮球囊导管二尖瓣成形术（ＰＢＭＶ）治疗风湿性二尖瓣狭窄（ＭＳ）的远期疗效。方法 自１９８９年５月至１９９７年１２月对风湿性ＭＳ３３６例患者采用Ｉｎｏｕｅ法行ＰＢＭＶ,对成功的３３０例进行８年的随访,每年随访１次,根据临床症状,心尖部期杂音及第一心音的强度改变、心功能、二维及多普勒超声心动图检测的二尖瓣口面积判断远期疗效。随访时二尖瓣口面积经ＰＢＭＶ后增加的面积缩小５０％以上为再狭窄。结     

超声心动图对30例经皮穿刺二尖瓣球囊扩张术后左心功能的评价

本文对３０例经皮穿刺二尖瓣球囊扩张术（ＰＢＭＶ）后左心功能进行了追踪，拟期评价ＰＢＭＶ的疗效．方法采用Ｍ型超声心动图的左室短轴缩短百分率（ＦＳ），二维超声心动图（改良Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎ法）的左室射血分数（ＥＦ）、每搏出量（ＳＶ）和心输出量（ＣＯ）．结果与术前比较；ＦＳ、ＳＶ、ＥＦ和ＣＯ均明显均高（Ｐ＜０．００１）．三个月后ＦＳ和ＥＦ没有进一步改善（Ｐ＝ＮＳ）．在对扩瓣前后二尖瓣口面积的变化与ＦＳ和ＥＦ的变化的直线回归分析中发现，随着瓣口面积的扩大，ＥＦ和ＦＳ出现明显升高（ｒ＝０．６４４，ｒ＝０．５９４）．这表明，瓣口面积的变化是导致左心功能改善的重要因素．     

多普勒超声技术定量测定二尖瓣位人工瓣跨瓣压差及瓣口面积的准确性研究

为观察多普勒超声测定二尖瓣位人工瓣跨瓣压差和瓣口面积（ＭＶＡ）的准确性，利用多普勒超声技术对２１例Ｓｏｒｉｎ型侧倾碟瓣的跨瓣压差及ＭＶＡ进行测定，并与心导管检查进行比较。相关分析结果表明，由多普勒测定的人工瓣跨瓣压差及ＭＶＡ与心导管测量值有密切的相关关系。研究结果进一步证明，由多普勒超声测量的跨瓣压差、ＭＶＡ均具有高度的准确性和可靠性。     

经食管二维超声心动图测定成人二尖瓣狭窄的瓣口面积

０３３经食管二维超声心动图测定成人二尖瓣狭窄的瓣口面积［ＳｔｏｄｄａｒｄＭＦ等．ＡｍＨｅａｒｔＪ，１９９４，１２７：１３４８（英文）］经胸廓二维超声心动图是测量二尖瓣狭窄瓣口面积的可靠而精确的方法。经食管二维超声心动图测量二尖瓣口面积的有效作用的记载...     

二尖瓣平均跨瓣压差的简便计算新方法

对１０５例行经皮球囊二尖瓣扩张术（ＰＢＭＶ）患者的血液动力学进行了分析，提出了一种新的计算二尖瓣平均跨瓣压差的公式，即ＭＶＰＧ＝ＭＬＡＰ－ＬＶＥＤＰ／２。结果表明，本方法与标准方法计算的二尖瓣平均跨瓣压差差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５），且二者间有高度相关性（ｒ＝０．９７５，Ｐ＜０．００１）。我们认为该方法简便、可靠、具有重要的临床价值。     

近端等流速面面积法测算二尖瓣狭窄之瓣口面积

近端等流速面面积（ＰＩＳＡ）法是根据近端血流汇聚（ＰＦＣ）原理，用彩色多普勒血流显像（ＣＤＦＭ）技术测定狭小孔径流量的一种新方法。本研究用ＰＩＳＡ法测算二尖瓣狭窄瓣口的面积（ｃＭ－ＶＡ）与手术标本实测值（ａＭＶＡ）相比较。结果表明，所有病人均可清晰显示二尖瓣口左房侧的ＰＦＣ区，ｃＭＶＡ与ａＭＶＡ具有良好的相关性。本研究证实了ＰＩＳＡ法估测二尖瓣口面积是可行，且精确的，可以在临床应用     

连枷样二尖瓣口返流彩色多普勒血流的三维重建

本研究采用体外血流模型,模拟连枷样二尖瓣（ＦＭＶ）口返流,应用堂瞧见彩色多普勒血流显像（ＣＤＦＩ）的返流面积与射流和血流会聚区的三维（３Ｄ）超声重建及实际返流量进行对比研究,评价更复杂的血流（脉冲血流通过ＦＭＶ）状态３Ｄ重建的可行性和准确性。被驱动的血流通过一个模拟ＦＭＶ口,返流口的截面积为０．２４ｃｍ＾２。仪器使用ＡＴＬ,Ｉｎｔｅｒｓｐｅｃ Ａｐｏｇｅｅ８００彩色多普勒超声仪,探头附着在一种机械     

Doppler echocardiographic assessment of transmitral gradients and mitral valve area before and after mitral valve balloon dilatation

This is a comparative study of 60 sets of observations of mitral valve end-diastolic gradient, mean diastolic gradient, and mitral valve area obtained by Doppler echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. The studies were performed in 28 patients, 16 of whom underwent mitral valve balloon valvuloplasty. These 16 patients had studies performed before, immediately after valvuloplasty, and one week later. Thus 28 studies were performed before or without valvuloplasty (Group I) and 32 after valvuloplasty (Group II). The time interval between Doppler echocardiography and cardiac catheterization was less than 24 hours in 44 studies and 24 to 72 hours in 16 studies. In Doppler echocardiography the gradients were obtained by simplified Bernoulli's equation and the mitral valve area by pressure half-time method. There was excellent correlation between end-diastolic gradients (r = 0.96, p less than 0.001) and mean diastolic gradients (r = 0.92, p less than 0.001) measured by the two techniques. A statistically significant correlation also existed in the mitral valve area values (r = 0.53, p less than 0.005). On separate analysis Group I showed excellent correlation for all three variables (r values of 0.90, 0.87, and 0.82 for end-diastolic gradients, mean-diastolic gradients, and mitral valve area, respectively). Group II also showed excellent correlation of end-diastolic gradients (r = 0.80) and mean diastolic gradients (r = 0.87), but poor correlation of the mitral valve areas (r = 0.17; p = NS) by the two techniques. Doppler echocardiography can accurately measure transmitral gradients both before and after valvuloplasty.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术的远期疗效

目的 观察经皮球囊三尖瓣成形术近期及远期疗效.方法 自1992年4月至2008年11月采用Inoue单球囊法对1768例风湿性心脏病二尖瓣狭窄患者行经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术(PBMV)治疗.对其中自1992年4月至1998年8月426例术后10年患者进行随访.球囊扩张前后均采用同步记录左心房和左心室压力,计算二尖瓣跨瓣压差.术前、术后及随访中均采用超声心动图检查和临床心功能评价.结果 1748例完成PBMV治疗,成功率为98.86%.左心房平均压由术前(38±7)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)下降至(12±4)mm Hg(P<0.001),二尖瓣平均跨瓣压差由术前(28±6)mm Hg下降至(8±3)mm Hg(P<0.001),二尖瓣口面积由术前(0.98±0.26)cm~2增加至(1.97±0.39)cm~2(P<0.001).主要并发症为死亡2例,急性心包填塞1例,肺水肿1例,重度二尖瓣反流12例,脑栓塞2例.426例PBMV术后10年随访,心功能仍然维持在纽约心功能Ⅰ～Ⅱ级而未冉进行PBMV或换瓣术者288例(67.6%),冉狭窄140例(33.3%),死亡31例(7.5%).结论 PBMV是治疗风湿性心脏病二尖瓣狭窄的有效方法 .     

Late (two-year) follow-up after percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy.

Percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (PBMV) compares well with surgical commissurotomy, showing comparable improvement in symptoms and catheterization-proven valve area early after the procedure. This study reports the New York Heart Association class, mitral valve area calculated by echocardiography, and the results of transseptal cardiac catheterization 2 years after PBMV. The data are compared with the status immediately before and after PBMV. Forty-one patients returned to enter the study (mean follow-up time 24 +/- 3 months). All patients were evaluated clinically by the same investigator who had seen them at the time of PBMV. Transseptal cardiac catheterization and echocardiographic analysis (2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography) were performed on the same day. At follow-up, 17 patients were class I, 20 were class II, and 4 were class III. Although the mitral valve area calculated by cardiac catheterization increased significantly from immediately before to immediately after PBMV there was a decrease in the calculated mitral valve area at 2-year follow-up. Echocardiographic analysis did not show as large an increase in mitral area, immediately after PBMV, and no significant decrease in mitral valve area at 2 years (before PBMV planimetry 1.1 +/- 0.1 cm2; immediately after 1.8 +/- 0.1 [p less than 0.05]; follow-up 1.6 +/- 0.1 [p = not significant compared with immediately after PBMV]). Doppler halftime measurements were similar. PBMV is effective therapy with good midterm results for selected patients with mitral stenosis.     

Serial assessment of mitral regurgitation by pulsed Doppler echocardiography in patients undergoing balloon aortic valvuloplasty

Mitral regurgitation was serially assessed by pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 144 patients undergoing balloon aortic valvuloplasty for symptomatic aortic stenosis. Regurgitant scores of 0, 1, 2 and 3 were assigned to pulsed Doppler patterns corresponding to no, mild, moderate and severe mitral regurgitation, respectively. Before balloon aortic valvuloplasty, mitral regurgitant score correlated significantly (p less than 0.005) but weakly with aortic valve area (r = -0.24), left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.34) and left ventricular systolic pressure (r = 0.23). There was no significant correlation between mitral regurgitation and either mean catheterization or mean Doppler aortic valve gradient. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty produced significant decreases in both catheterization and Doppler mean transvalvular aortic valve gradients (56 +/- 19 to 31 +/- 12 and 60 +/- 19 to 48 +/- 16 mm Hg, respectively; both p less than 0.0001) and a significant increase (p less than 0.0001) in aortic valve area assessed by catheterization (0.6 +/- 0.2 to 0.9 +/- 0.3 cm2). Left ventricular ejection fraction did not change, but cardiac output increased (p less than 0.001) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased (p less than 0.0001). Pulsed Doppler findings of mitral regurgitation were present in 102 of the 144 patients. Eighty-eight patients had a score compatible with mild or more severe degrees of mitral regurgitation, and 49 had a score indicative of moderate or severe valvular insufficiency. In the entire group of 144 patients, mitral regurgitant score decreased significantly from 1.1 +/- 1.0 to 1.0 +/- 1.0 (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

二尖瓣形态对经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术近远期疗效的影响

目的 观察不同瓣膜形态的二尖瓣狭窄患者行经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术的近远期疗效.方法 根据Wilkins超声二尖瓣形态学积分,将385例二尖瓣狭窄患者分为＞8分组(125例)和≤8分组(260例).均采用改良Inoue法对患者行经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术.术后进行随访,并比较两组患者的临床疗效.结果 经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术成功370例,＞8分组经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术的成功率低于≤8分组(92.8％比97.7％,P＜0.05).术后6个月,两组患者各项超声心动图检查指标均较术前显著改善(均P＜0.05);与≤8分组(254例)比较,＞8分组(116例)经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术后左心房平均压、肺动脉收缩压、跨瓣压差及二尖瓣瓣口面积的改变值均较小[分别为(14.22±5.02)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)比(15.44±5.19) mm Hg、(26.13±9.27) mm Hg比(31.93±9.98)mm Hg、(9.21±4.11)mm Hg比(10.16 ±4.21)mm Hg和(1.02±0.15)cm2比(1.20±0.22)cm2,均P＜0.05].经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术成功且完成远期随访[(78±20)个月]的患者共353例,两组患者各项超声心动图检查指标均较术前显著改善(均P＜0.05);与≤8分组(245例)比较,＞8分组(108例)左心房平均压、肺动脉收缩压、跨瓣压差及二尖瓣瓣口面积的改变值均较小[分别为(13.28±5.06) mm Hg比(14.77±5.17)mm Hg、(21.19±9.17) mm Hg比(28.92±9.91) mm Hg、(7.30±4.40)mm Hg比(9.16±4.28)mm Hg和(0.92±0.17)cm2比(1.07±0.20)cm2,均P＜0.05],且再狭窄发生率较高(20.4％比8.2％,P＜0.05).结论 二尖瓣瓣膜形态是决定经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术疗效的关键因素之一.对于超声二尖瓣形态学积分低的患者,经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术成功率较高,术后近期及远期随访疗效较好,再狭窄发生率较低,治疗方案可优先选择经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术.     

经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术疗效和术后左心房重构的可控影响因素

目的 探讨经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术(PBMV)治疗二尖瓣狭窄的疗效和术后左心房重构的可控影响因素.方法 选取我院1998年3月至2002年6月行PBMV的二尖瓣狭窄患者96 例.收集术前、术后1周和术后4～6年超声心动图、12导联心电图等临床资料进行回顾性分析.采用多元逐步回归方法分析影响术后左心房重构的可控临床因素.结果 PBMV术前左心房内径与术后1周比较差异无统计学意义[(44.6±6.6)cm比(42.8±6.5)cm,P>0.05];术后4～6年左心房内径为(47.2±5.7)cm,均大于术前和术后1周(P均<0.05).与术前比较,术后1周和4～6年二尖瓣口面积均较大[(2.02±0.43)cm2和(1.98±0.36)cm2比(1.06±0.32)cm2,P均<0.05].术后1周和术后4～6年心功能Ⅰ和Ⅱ级(纽约心脏病学会分级)患者比例均高于术前(P<0.01).多元回归分析显示,与术后4～6年左心房内径相关的可控因素包括术后4～6年收缩压水平、术后1周二尖瓣口面积、术前心房颤动、术前Wilkins积分≤8分,术前左心房内径(P均<0.05).结论 PBMV治疗二尖瓣狭窄的近期效果明显.术后4～6年收缩压水平、术后1周二尖瓣口面积、术前心房颤动、术前Wilkins积分≤8分、术前左心房内径是影响术后左心房内径的重要因素.

Abstract：

Objective To observe the outcome and assess related factors affecting left atrial remodeling after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) in patients with mitral valve stenosis. Methods From March 1998 to June 2002,there were 96 mitral valve stenosis patients who underwent PBMV in our hospital. Echocardiographic,12 leads united electrocardiogram and other clinical datas were collected at preoperation,1 week after operation,and 4-6 years after operation to retrospectiveanalysis. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to assess controllable factors of left atrial remodeling. ResultsLeft atrial diameter reduced from (44.6±6.6)cm before PBMV to (42.8±6.5)cm (P>0.05) 1 week after PBMV and enlarged to (47.2±5.7)cm (all P<0.05) at the end of 4-6 years follow up post operation. The mitral valve area (MVA) increased from (1.06±0.32) cm2 before PBMV to (2.02±0.43) cm2 1 week after PBMV and (1.98±0.36)cm2 4-6 years post operation (all P<0.05). Heart function assessed by NYHA classification improved significantly at 1 week and 4-6 years after surgery compared with pre-operation(P<0.01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure at 4-6 years after operation, MVA at 1 week after operation, preoperative atrial fibrillation, Wilkins score≤8, preoperative left atrial diameter were the independent predictive factors of left atrial remodeling at 4-6 years after PBMV.Conclusions PBMV was an effective therapy option for patients with mitral valve stenosis.Systolic blood pressure at 4-6 years after operation, MVA at 1 week after operation, preoperative atrial fibrillation, Wilkins≤8, preoperative left atrial diameter are the predictive factors of left atrial remodeling after PBMV.     

Transesophageal Echocardiography in Candidates for Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty

Prior to percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV), mitral valve morphology and the presence of left atrial thrombi are usually evaluated by transthoracic two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography (TTE). This study analyzes the impact of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in addition to TTE on the selection of candidates considered for PBMV for mitral stenosis. Seventy-five patients with severe mitral stenosis who were considered as appropriate candidates for PBMV based on TTE findings were studied. In 19 (25%) patients, TEE revealed findings that were essential for PBMV but were missed by TTE: left atrial thrombi (n = 14; including 13 in left atrial appendage), right atrial thrombus (n = 1), incomplete cor triatriatum (n = 1) and mitral valve vegetation (n = 1). In two other patients, a left atrial thrombus had been suspected by TTE but could be excluded by TEE. TEE and TTE revealed similar scores of thickening, calcification, and mobility of the mitral valve. Compared to TTE, thickening of the subvalvular apparatus was graded lower using horizontal plane TEE due to shadowing by the mitral valve (echo score 1.8 ± 0.8 vs 1.4 ± 0.7; P < 0.05) whereas results from longitudinal plane TEE were similar to TTE findings. The data show that due to the high prevalence of left atrial thrombi, TEE should be performed in addition to TTE in all patients prior to PBMV.     

Influence of commissural calcification on the immediate outcomes of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of mild to moderate commissural calcification on the immediate outcomes of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV). METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed the results of 223 consecutive patients (mean age 37.6 +/- 8.7 years) who underwent PBMV for rheumatic mitral stenosis. Commissural calcification was identified with a two-dimensional echocardiography (echo) in 65 (29.1%) patients with the severity of calcification being graded from 0-3. The anatomy and function of the mitral valve were assessed byWilkins echo score. In patients with no commissural calcification the increase in mitral valve area after PBMV was 0.90 +/- 0.42 cm2, which was greater than the increase in those with calcification grade 1 (0.83 +/- 0.42 cm2, p < 0.05), grade 2 (0.72 +/- 0.38 cm2, p < 0.05) and grade 3 (0.63 +/- 0.13 cm2, p < 0.05). In patients with an echo score of < or = 8, the presence of commissural calcification was associated with a smaller increase in mitral valve area (p < 0.05) and a smaller reduction in New York Heart Association (NYHA) function class after PBMV (p < 0.05). In patients with an echo score of more than 8, commissural calcification had no significant effect on the valve area increase and NYHA function class reduction (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Commissural calcification has an adverse effect on the clinical results of PBMV. Detailed pre-procedural assessment of commissural calcification with echocardiography must be performed to provide background information on the immediate outcomes of PBMV.     

Copeptin level and copeptin response to percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty in mitral stenosis

We aimed to investigate copeptin levels in mitral stenosis (MS) patients and the behavior of copeptin after hemodynamic improvement achieved by percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV). The study involved 29 consecutive symptomatic patients with moderate to severe rheumatic MS who underwent PBMV. Twenty-eight age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers composed the control group. Blood samples for copeptin were obtained immediately before and 24 h after PBMV, centrifuged, then stored at -70°C until assayed. The copeptin level of the patient group was statistically different from that of the control group (61.8 ± 34.4 and 36.8 ± 15.2 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.001). PBMV resulted in a significant increase in mitral valve area and a significant decrease in transmitral gradient as well as systolic pulmonary artery pressure. While hemodynamic relief was obtained, we detected a statistically significant decline in copeptin levels 24 h after PBMV compared to the baseline levels (from 61.8 ± 34.4 to 44.1 ± 18.2 pg/ml; p = 0.004).     

Methodologic issues in clinical evaluation of stenosis severity in adults undergoing aortic or mitral balloon valvuloplasty. The NHLBI Balloon Valvuloplasty Registry.

Although both catheterization and Doppler measures of valvular stenosis severity have been validated, each has specific advantages and limitations, particularly in the setting of balloon valvuloplasty. Invasive valve area and mean pressure gradient recorded immediately before and after aortic (n = 589) or mitral (n = 608) catheter balloon valvuloplasty were compared with Doppler valve area and mean pressure gradient recorded less than 30 days before and 24 to 72 hours after the procedure. For aortic stenosis, Doppler valve area ranged from 0.1 to 1.4 cm2 before and 0.2 to 2.3 cm2 after catheter balloon valvuloplasty. Doppler and invasive aortic valve areas differed by less than or equal to 0.5 cm2 in 99% and by less than 0.2 cm2 in 92% of patients. Linear correlation was higher before versus after catheter balloon valvuloplasty, for both valve area (r = 0.49 vs r = 0.35, p = 0.01) and mean pressure gradient (r = 0.64 vs r = 0.50, p = 0.01). Group mean invasive valve area was slightly smaller before (0.50 vs 0.59 cm2, p less than 0.0001) but was not different after (0.80 vs 0.78 cm2, p = 0.16) catheter balloon valvuloplasty. Variables affecting the valve area differences were cardiac output, aortic regurgitation, heart rate and blood pressure. Mean pressure gradient differences were related to echo quality, blood pressure and mitral regurgitation. For mitral stenosis, 2-dimensional echocardiographic valve area ranged from 0.4 to 2.8 cm2 before and 0.7 to 3.8 cm2 after catheter balloon valvuloplasty. Two-dimensional echocardiography and invasive mitral valve areas differed by less than or equal to 0.5 cm2 in 96% and by less than 0.2 cm2 in 81% of cases. Linear correlation was not different before versus after catheter balloon valvuloplasty for two-dimensional echocardiographic valve area (r = 0.40 vs 0.36), pressure halftime valve area (r = 0.31 vs 0.32) or mean pressure gradient (r = 0.55 vs r = 0.46). Group mean 2-dimensional echocardiography and pressure halftime valve areas were larger than invasive valve areas before (1.09 vs 1.02 cm2, p = 0.001) and smaller after (1.71 vs 2.02 cm2, p less than 0.0001) catheter balloon valvuloplasty. Important variables affecting the differences were mitral regurgitation, interatrial shunt, cardiac output and heart rate. Nonsimultaneous studies, differing volume flow measurements, and the underlying accuracy of each technique largely account for discrepancies between these methods. The clinical use of each will depend on its ability to predict long-term patient outcome.