AI Article Synopsis

  • The study aimed to evaluate the shape of the regurgitant orifice area (ROA) in different types of mitral regurgitation (MR) using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
  • Patients were categorized based on the severity of MR, with the majority showing moderate to severe cases, and various mitral valve pathologies were identified.
  • The findings indicated significant asymmetry in the ROA shape for functional MR compared to other types, linking this asymmetry to increased mitral valve tenting and leaflet angles.

Article Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to characterize the shape of regurgitant orifice area (ROA) and mitral apparatus in various forms of mitral regurgitation (MR) by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Background: ROA is an accepted parameter of MR severity. However, there are little data on the shape of the ROA in various forms of MR.

Methods: Direct assessment of ROA was performed with a 1.5-T CMR scanner using a breath-hold fast imaging with steady-state free precession. The regurgitant orifice shape and the anatomy of the mitral valve apparatus including mitral annulus, mitral leaflet angles, and mitral valve tenting area were assessed.

Results: We studied 74 patients. MR severity was mild in 39%, moderate in 27%, and moderate-to-severe or severe in 34%. Mitral valve pathology was degenerative in 26%, prolapse in 22%, flail in 33%, and functional in 19%. For all patients, ROA correlated significantly with regurgitant fraction (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). The ROA shape index as expressed by the ratio of the larger length to the smaller length was a median of 2.04 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.49 to 3.08) over all patients. CMR revealed significant asymmetry of the ROA geometry in functional MR 3.91 (IQR: 2.79 to 4.84) compared with prolapse 2.14 (IQR: 1.80 to 3.04), flail 2.20 (IQR: 1.69 to 2.91), and degenerative MR 1.24 (IQR: 1.09 to 1.57), all p < 0.01. The assessment of mitral valve geometry demonstrated that patients with functional MR had significantly increased leaflet angles, mitral valve tenting area, and mitral annulus area (all p < 0.05). Of note, the orifice shape index correlated with increasing leaflet angles in patients with functional MR (r = 0.68, p = 0.005).

Conclusions: Direct assessment of ROA by CMR revealed significant asymmetry of ROA in various forms of MR, particularly in patients with functional MR. The slitlike appearance in functional MR correlates with a distended mitral apparatus.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2011.06.020DOI Listing

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