Clinical events and echocardiographic lesion progression rate in subjects with mild or moderate aortic regurgitation.

Background: The rate of progression of aortic regurgitation (AR) is not well described. Current guidelines state that asymptomatic patients with mild AR should be followed up every 3–5 years and 1–2 yearly for moderate AR. This study describes the lesion and clinical based progression of mild and moderate AR in a population of patients undergoing systematic follow-up.

The case for a specialist multidisciplinary valve clinic.

Valve disease is common and is increasing in prevalence as the population ages. The delivery of appropriate management is not always straightforward, and better ways of organizing care are required. Here, the argument is made for a specialist multidisciplinary valve clinic, while a description is provided of the authors' model clinic, which incorporates a specialist cardiologist in addition to sonographers and a nurse who carry out the surveillance services.

A cardiac sonographer led follow up clinic for heart valve disease.

Introduction: This study describes the effect of introducing a cardiac sonographer led follow up clinic for patients with stable heart valve disease. The 2 years before and after the instigation of the valve clinic were audited.

Materials And Methods: The clinic was conducted in a single centre and undertaken in the cardiology department of a district general hospital.