Three-dimensional anatomic features of the mitral valve that predict systolic anterior motion occurring during dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Background/aim: Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction related to systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve is a common complication of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). However, the mechanisms underlying SAM have not been fully characterized. The objective of the present study was to use three-dimensional echocardiography to identify anatomic features of the mitral valve that predispose to SAM during DSE.