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An anatomical study of the healthy human heart by echocardiography with special reference to physiological valvular
C Macchi1, S Z Orlandini, G E Orlandini
1Institute of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.
Insights
This study investigated physiological valve regurgitation in 110 healthy adults using echocardiography. Mitral and aortic regurgitation showed significant correlations with age, suggesting age-related changes in heart valve function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Physiology
Background:
- Echocardiography is a key tool for assessing cardiac structure and function.
- Understanding physiological valve regurgitation is crucial for differentiating normal findings from pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of physiological valve regurgitation in a healthy adult population.
- To determine correlations between valve regurgitation and demographic factors such as age and sex.
Main Methods:
- Two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography were performed on 110 healthy subjects.
- Measurements included cardiac chamber dimensions, ventricular wall thickness, and valve ring dimensions.
- Prevalence and characteristics of pulmonary, tricuspid, mitral, and aortic regurgitation were assessed.
Main Results:
- Pulmonary regurgitation was found in 42.7% and tricuspid regurgitation in 33.6% of subjects, with no significant correlation to age or sex.
- Mitral regurgitation (10%) showed a significant positive correlation with age (p < 0.05).
- Aortic regurgitation (8.2%) demonstrated a significant positive correlation with age (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- The study identified specific characteristics for physiological regurgitation.
- Age is a significant factor associated with mitral and aortic regurgitation in healthy individuals.
- Echocardiography can effectively detect and characterize physiological valve regurgitation.
Abstract:
110 healthy subjects (45 men and 65 women ranging in age between 24 and 60 years) were studied by 2-dimensional echocardiography. In each subject the diameters of the cardiac chambers, the thickness of the intraventricular septum and posterior wall of the left ventricle in diastole, as well as the diameters and circumferences of the aortic and mitral rings were measured. Moreover, in each subject color doppler echocardiography was performed. Pulmonary valve regurgitation was observed in 47 subjects (42.7%). This finding was not correlated in a statistically significant manner to either age, sex, body weight, or height. The incidence of pulmonary regurgitation, however, tended to decrease with age. In 37 subjects (33.6%), tricuspid regurgitation was detected without any correlation to the above parameters. In 11 cases (10%), mitral regurgitation was observed; its correlation to age was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Aortic regurgitation was noted in 9 (8.2%) cases; its incidence was directly correlated to age (p < 0.01). The observed regurgitations were defined as "physiological" and precise characteristics were chosen so as to distinguish such "physiological" from "pathological" regurgitations.