[Echocardiographic diagnosis of mitral stenosis]

One hundred forty nine subjects have their echocardiography recorded by Echoview apparatus, Picker firm. The echocardiographic parameters found in 72 patients in pure or almost pure mitral stenosis were confronted to those of 77 healthy subjects. The high sensitivity of the echocardiographic method is stressed upon in the differentiation of mitral stenosis. The most important echocardiographic criterion of mitral stenosis is the slowed down speed of the early diastolic movement, EF of the anterior mitral cusp and the shifting of the posterior mitral cusp forward from the line, passing through the point of the mitral closing. Confirmed diagnosis of mitral stenosis could only be obtained by the combination of those two echocardiographic changes. Echocardiographic significance is stressed in the establishment of the thickness of the two mitral cusps, increased number of component echolines and amplitude decrease in anterior mitral cusp opening in the assessment of the presence of mitral fibrosclerosis and calcinosis.