Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of valve regurgitation in healthy volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence and the characteristics of physiological valve regurgitation.


METHODS
Pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography, continuous wave Doppler echocardiography and Doppler colour flow mapping were performed prospectively in healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Echocardiography laboratory in a city hospital.


METHODS
32 consecutive healthy volunteers (age 21-49 years, mean age 29.4).


METHODS
Identification of regurgitation with colour Doppler flow mapping and measurement of the jet area, jet length, and maximal velocity of the regurgitation.


RESULTS
Regurgitation was recorded at the pulmonary (100%), tricuspid (100%), mitral (56%), and aortic valves (6%). The velocity of pulmonary and tricuspid regurgitation was similar to that predicted from the pressure gradient calculated from the Bernoulli equation. The jet area and jet length were generally small.


CONCLUSIONS
Trivial regurgitation from the pulmonary, tricuspid, and mitral valves is common in healthy people. It is important to take such regurgitation into account when valve disease is diagnosed.
Jobic
Y
Y
Department of Cardiology, South Hospital of Amiens, France.
Slama
M
M
Tribouilloy
C
C
Lan Cheong Wah
L
L
Choquet
D
D
Boschat
J
J
Penther
P
P
Lesbre
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011665:Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging