title: Echographic-quantified severity of mitral anulus calcification: prognostic correlation to related hemodynamic, valvular, rhythm, and conduction abnormalities.
abstract: Clinical and echocardiographic findings in 123 patients with mitral anulus calcification (MAC) were analyzed. In all patients M-mode echocardiography demonstrated a dense band of echoes posterior to the mitral valve, moving parallel and anterior to the left ventricular endocardium. Thirty-three per cent of patients were classified as having minimal to mild MAC (< 5 mm) and 67% had moderate to severe MAC (greater than or equal to 5 mm). There was a significant correlation between the degree of MAC to left atrial enlargement, congestive heart failure, aortic valve sclerosis, mitral regurgitation, atrial fibrillation, and AV-fascicular conduction defects. ECG evidence of conduction disturbances was significantly associated with MAC greater than or equal to t mm in width. The echocardiographic demonstration of MAC greater than or equal to 5 mm was significantly associated with the clinical implications known to occur with MAC; this echographic finding has important prognostic value in the evaluation of patients with mitral anulus calcification.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000175:diagnosis; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis