Reassessment of echocardiographic criteria for diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse.

Commonly used echocardiographic criteria for mitral valve prolapse (MVP) include a sizable proportion of persons whose hearts are normal. Nevertheless, the echocardiogram is generally used as an independent standard for the diagnosis of MVP despite lack of consensus on the criteria to be used and the probability of interobserver variability. Conversely, there is a relatively uniform consensus that classic auscultatory signs establish the diagnosis of MVP beyond reasonable doubt.

Mitral regurgitation after cardiac transplantation.

The contribution of the left atrium to mitral valve competence was assessed using the model of altered atrial size and geometry created by atrial anastomosis during cardiac transplantation. Sixteen patients underwent Doppler and 2-dimensional echocardiography after orthotopic transplantation. Mitral regurgitation was present in 14 of 16 patients.

Predictability of mitral regurgitation detected by Doppler echocardiography in patients referred for cardiac transplantation.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is common in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), but the frequency in relation to the origin of ventricular dilatation has not been established. In 50 patients referred for cardiac transplantation, MR was assessed by Doppler echocardiography and the findings were compared with clinical information. Dilatation of the left ventricle, left atrium and mitral anulus was analyzed in 25 patients with respect to cause of CHF.