VALUES FOR MITRAL-VALVE ANNULUS DIMENSIONS IN NORMALS AND PATIENTS WITH MITRAL REGURGITATION

Objectives. The present study was designed to investigate the dimensio ns of mitral valve annulus in the presence of mitral regurgitation. Me thod. Fifty-four patients were examined. On transthoracic echocardiogr aphic images, we performed Linear measurements in the parasternal plan e in order to define the size of the Left ventricle, left atrium, and mitral valve annulus. We compared these findings with those obtained i n 16 control subjects. Results. Twenty-one patients with mild or moder ate mitral regurgitation demonstrated no significant change of the mit ral valve annulus compared with the control group (P > 0.05). Seventee n patients with severe mitral regurgitation (grade of 4) had a signifi cant increase of the dimensions of the mitral valve annulus, Left vent ricle, and left atrium (P < 0.05). The etiology of mitral regurgitatio n was degenerative in 32 patients, rheumatic in 2 patients, and mitral valve prolapse in 4 patients. ALI patients had normal Left ventricula r systolic function. Thirty-one patients were in normal sinus rhythm, and seven were in atrial fibrillation. Conclusions. The measurement of the diameter of the mitral valve annulus is feasible with transthorac ic echocardiography. In addition to the evaluation of mitral valve lea flets and subvalvular apparatus, the measurement of the mitral valve a nnulus is important in the evaluation of mitral regurgitation, as its enlargement is indicative for severe mitral regurgitation.