Quantitative evaluation of the severity of mitral insufficiency in dogs by the color Doppler method

Color flow mapping areas of mitral regurgitation jets (MRMA) and aortic forward flow mapping area (AFMA) were measured in 33 dogs for quantitative evaluation of pathological changes of mitral insufficiency, according to NYHA criteria, by the color Doppler method. The ratio of these areas (MRMA/AFMA) was calculated and the result showed a high correlation (r = 0.95) with the result of NYHA evaluation. The result of the present study, which corresponded to the NYHA findings, showed that the color Doppler method can be used for quantitative assessment of mitral insufficiency in dogs.