Frequency of mitral valve dysfunction from mitral anular calcium as detected by Doppler echocardiography

Doppler echocardiography is useful for detecting and quantifying mitral regurgitation (MR) and mitral stenosis (MS). To determine the prevalence of these abnormalities in patients with mitral anular calcium (MAC), 51 consecutive patients who had an echocardiographic diagnosis of MAC were examined by Doppler ultrasound. Transmitral flow was evaluated to determine the presence of MR or left ventricular inflow obstruction (MS) by continuous and pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography. The severity of these hemodynamic abnormalities was quantitated by previously described techniques. Eleven patients (22%) had mild MR, 17 (33%) had moderate to severe MR and 4 (8%) had significant MS. Clinical findings such as a systolic murmur, evidence of congestive heart failure, and dyspnea on exertion were not helpful in distinguishing patients with no or mild MR from those who had moderate to severe MR. M-mode measured left atrial size was significantly larger (p less than 0.05) in patients with moderate to severe MR. This study suggests that MR is often associated with MAC, that MS is not a rare finding with MAC, and that Doppler echocardiography can quantitate these lesions in the elderly when symptoms are not specific and physical findings are inconclusive or absent.