RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CONTOUR AND OR CONTOUR/AREA RATIO AT DOPPLER AND LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY IN PATIENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT AORTIC-STENOSIS/

Plainmetry of the stenotic flow areas using Doppler imaging of jet ori gin was performed, together with the measurement of their contour and a calculated contour/area (C/A) Doppler ratio, on 38 adult patients wi th significant aortic stenosis (0.27 to 0.85 cm(2)). Echo measurements of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were also performed to study th e differences in LVH according to the areas, contours or C/A ratios. T here were 10 areas below, and 28 over 0.5 cm(2). The latter group was subdivided according to a C/A < 0.8 (n = 14), or 0.8 > (n = 14). There was a wide scatter in values for LVH vs. areas, even in case of small er areas. This led to lower mean values of LVH (p < 0.001) in this gro up, and to a correlation coefficient at 0.18. The smallest areas were generally rounded and had a high C/A ratio. Contour was regular in hal f of areas over 0.5 cm(2). It increased less rapidly than areas increa sed, leading to a decreased C/A. The other half, of a similar range of sized, had a markedly increased irregular contour, entailing a C/A > 0.8 for an LVH > 150 g/m(2) BSA ranged from 55 to 70%. In conclusion, the study suggests that contour length on LVH development when stenose s are significant, and should be coupled with area measurements. Figur es also suggest that other factors intervene, requiring further study.