title: Quantification of mitral regurgitation by integrated Doppler backscatter power.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We attempted to determine whether continuous wave Doppler backscatter power could be used to quantify mitral regurgitation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The power of a Doppler backscatter signal is proportional to the number of scatterers insonated and, hence, to the moving volume of blood. The relative power of the continuous wave Doppler signals from mitral inflow and aortic outflow is therefore proportional to the relative volumes of blood in motion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computer postprocessing was used to derive the relative power of the Doppler backscatter signal from the intensity of the pixels within the spectral display of anterograde aortic and mitral flow. The power ratio was used to calculate the regurgitant fraction in 20 patients (mean age 61.4 years) with mitral regurgitation. This Doppler regurgitant fraction was compared with that derived from angiographic left ventricular volume and thermodilution cardiac output. In addition, 12 normal control subjects were studied by the Doppler method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (+/- SD) catheterization regurgitant fraction was 0.50 +/- 0.26, and mean Doppler regurgitant fraction was 0.47 +/- 0.25 (r = 0.89). The limits of agreement between the two methods by Bland-Altman analysis were -0.21 + 0.27. In normal control subjects with an expected regurgitant fraction of close to zero, mean Doppler regurgitant fraction was 0.03 +/- 0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doppler backscatter power from mitral and aortic inflow provides a new and accurate method for quantifying mitral regurgitation.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Investigation Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: MacIsaac
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kirsner
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow