Semiquantitative grading of mitral regurgitation by color-coded Doppler echocardiography

We evaluated patients with mitral regurgitation by color-coded Doppler echocardiography using a semiquantitative score system, which is useful in the clinical setting, by providing rapid discrimination between mild, moderate and severe regurgitation. The study was performed in 42 patients (19 female, 23 male) mean age 58 years, range 23-75 years with mitral regurgitation of different etiology. Color-coded Doppler measurements were compared to angiographic findings using a three point score system. In addition to such parameters as maximal jet length, area and the ratio jet area/left atrial area, we also considered the duration of regurgitant flow. The best correlation was obtained for the maximal area of the jet multiplied by the duration of regurgitant flow/cycle length (r = 0.88), determined in the apical plane where the jet was best visualized. For the parameter area of jet alone, the correlation coefficient was 0.81, for the length of the jet the value was r = 0.65 and comparison of the areas of jet and left atrium gave a coefficient of 0.77. A clear separation between mild and severe regurgitation was observed only for the parameter calculated by multiplying the area of the jet by the duration of mitral regurgitation. In only 7% of the patients with moderate and severe regurgitation could we observe an overlap. This parameter, therefore, represents a useful method for estimating in a semiquantitative manner the severity of mitral regurgitation by color-coded Doppler echocardiography.