title: [Does aortic insufficiency influence Doppler-derived calculation of the valvular area in patients with mitral stenosis?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The evaluation of mitral valve area (MVA) in patients with mitral stenosis represents the main purpose of any diagnostic method, provided that MVA is a key parameter to indicate the need for valve surgery. The aim of this study was to assess whether the presence of aortic regurgitation associated with mitral stenosis affects the MVA measurement by left atrial pressure half time (PHT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine patients with mitral valve stenosis (68 females and 21 males, mean age 53.6 +/- 12.1 years), were studied. Fourty-eight patients (36 females and 12 males) had a concomitant aortic regurgitation (AR group), whereas 41 patients (32 females and 9 males) did not reflect any aortic valve involvement (no-AR group). Aortic regurgitation was graded on the basis of color flow analysis. The majority of patients had a slight to moderate regurgitation. MVA determination was carried out using both Hatle formula (220/PHT) and planimetric measurement in parasternal short axis view.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis demonstrated a good correlation between the 2 MVA measurement in both groups (IA group: r = 0.9, p < 0.0001, SSE = 0.21 cm2, y = 0.91x + 0.05; no-IA group r = 0.92, p < 0.0001, SSE = 0.22 cm2, y = 0.92x + 0.04). The concomitant aortic valve disease did not affect in any way the MVA measurement by means of the PHT method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Doppler derived method appears to be reliable for estimating the mitral valve area in patients with mitral stenosis even in the presence of aortic regurgitation.
authors: Istituto Pluridisciplinare di Clinica Medica, Cattedra di Cardiologia, Università di Messina.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Cavalli
authors: C
authors: C
authors: De Gregorio
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Magazù
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Nicosia
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Carerj
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Arrigo
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Oreto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation
vernacular_title: L'insufficienza aortica influenza il calcolo Doppler-derivato dell'area valvolare in pazienti con stenosi mitralica?