title: [Quantification of aortic valve area using three-dimensional echocardiography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the reproducibility of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) area measurement is greater with three-dimensional echocardiographic (3D-echo) planimetry than with conventional 2D-echo. To determine the LVOT circularity index by means of 3D-echo. To determine the usefulness of measuring the LVOT area by 3D-echo for quantifying the severity of valvular aortic stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 40 patients, of whom 22 had an aortic stenosis. The LVOT area was measured using both 2D-echo and 3D-echo, and the circularity index, using 3D-echo alone. In addition, the severity of valvular aortic stenosis was categorized using both 2D-echo and 3D-echo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of inter- and intra-observer agreement on LVOT area measurements were better with 3D-echo. The circularity index was 1.50 (0.25), and there was a very poor linear correlation with LVOT area (r=-0.34; P=.47). Patients with valvular aortic stenosis were categorized according to the severity of their stenoses using both 2D-echo and 3D-echo. The level of agreement between the two techniques was poor (kappa=0.36).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurements of the LVOT area made using 3D-echo were more reproducible than those made using 2D-echo. Consequently, 3D-echo may be a better technique for assessing the LVOT area. In addition, 3D-echo showed that the LVOT is elliptical in form and that its size is not related to its circularity. Moreover, 3D-echo could also be helpful in classifying the severity of valvular aortic stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Imagen Cardiovascular, Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérez de Isla
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zamorano
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez de la Yglesia
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cioccarelli
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almería
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: Ada L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Aubele
authors.forename: Dionisio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mataix
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macaya
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male