[Determination of stenotic mitral valve area using Doppler echocardiography. A comparison with hemodynamic studies]

In order to assess the reliability of Doppler echocardiography in the determination of mitral valve area (MVA) 21 consecutive patients (pts) affected by rheumatic disease and mitral valve stenosis (MS) were analyzed by continuous wave doppler echocardiography (CWD). Cardiac catheterization (cath) was performed within 24 hours from echocardiographic examination. MVA by CWD was calculated with a computerized system from the "pressure half-time" (T1/2) using the equation: 220/T1/2 in cm2. MVA was calculated from cath data by applying the modified Gorlin formula. MVA determined by CWD ranged from 0.9 to 2.8 cm2 (mean 1.39 +/- 0.55). MVA determined by Gorlin formula ranged from 0.5 to 2.8 cm2 (mean 1.31 +/- 0.63). The correlation between CWD and cath was good (r = 0.93, SEE = 0.19 cm2, P less than 0.001). In conclusion this study indicates that CWD is quite accurate in estimation of MVA and can reliably discriminate the "critical" size of the orifice. CWD has the advantage of allowing MVA determination in patients with associated mitral regurgitation.