A new simplified method for calculating mean mitral pressure gradient.
BACKGROUND
Mean mitral valve pressure gradient (MVPG) is one of the key measures of the severity of mitral stenosis. The method for calculating MVPG, however, is complex and time consuming. The purpose of this study is to establish a new simple method for calculating MVPG.


METHODS
Hemodynamic data were analyzed in 105 patients who underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV). A new simplified method for calculating mitral pressure gradient was proposed, i.e., mean MVPG = MLAP - LVEDP/2, where MLAP is mean left atrial pressure, and LVEDP is left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.


RESULTS
MVPGs derived from the standard and the new method were 13.28 +/- 7.42 mm Hg and 13.50 +/- 7.93 mm Hg, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the values of these two methods (P = 0.065). The MVPG derived from the new simplified method correlated closely with that calculated by the standard approach (r = 0.975, P < 0.001). Moreover, there was no significant difference between mitral valve areas (MVA) derived from the standard and the new approach either before or after PBMV in the 38 patients in whom cardiac output was measured.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that mitral pressure gradient can be calculated reliably with our new simplified method.
Cui
Wei
W
Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. cuiwei@medmail.com.cn
Dai
Ruping
R
Zhang
Gejun
G
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index