title: RT-3D TEE: characteristics of mitral annulus using mitral valve quantification (MVQ) program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the mitral annulus characteristics in significant mitral regurgitant lesions using mitral valve quantification (MVQ) program.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 117 patients (39 women), aged 18-86. Patients were separated into four subgroups: 35 patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation, 42 patients with isolated prolapse of the mitral valve, 12 patients with Barlow disease, and 28 healthy controls. Mitral annulus was examined in end-systole. The following parameters were assessed: anteroposterior and intercommissural diameter, perimeter of annulus, area of minimal surface spanning annulus and height of the mitral annulus. A new parameter--mitral annulus height index (height/circumference × 100) was introduced. Values of these parameters in subgroups with mitral pathology were compared with corresponding parameters of control group using Student t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In subgroups with mitral pathology all parameters except mitral annulus height and mitral annulus height index were significantly higher than those in the control group. Mitral annulus height was significantly higher in Barlow disease, significantly lower in mitral prolapse group and comparable to normal controls in the ischemic regurgitation group. Mitral annulus height index was significantly higher in Barlow disease and significantly lower in patients with prolapse and ischemic regurgitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Barlow disease is characterized by dilation and vertical deformation of the mitral annulus (annulus height and height index increase). Prolapse of the mitral valve and ischemic regurgitation of mitral annulus involve dilation and flattening of the annulus (annulus height decreases in prolapse group significantly, in ischemic regurgitation nonsignificantly, while annulus height index decreases significantly in both subgroups).
authors.affiliation: Center of Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantation, Brno, Czech Republic. sylva.kovalova@cktch.cz
authors.forename: Sylva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kovalova
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Necas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D040181:Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013599:Systole