This study is designed to assess color Doppler echocardiographic parameters in subjects with minimal mitral regurgitation (MR) in otherwise normal heart. Study cases have been selected during a five-month period among 2500 young male with an echocardiographic indication on the basis of subjects' complaints and upon physical examination. Left ventriculography was performed and subjects were dichotomized into group-I (n=30) if there was angiographically MR, and into group-2 (n=30) if they are intact. Patients in group- 1 were described as to have "true MR" and MR flow in group-2 was named "physiological". Doppler echocardiographic variables of true and physiological MR are compared to each other. The following echocardiographic variables were significantly different between group-1 and group-2: 1) the ratio of the max. duration of MR/mean systolic interval in parasternal long axis (0.7 10±0.244 vs 0.430±0.268, respectively, p<0.0001), 2) the ratio of the maximum duration of MR/mean systolic interval in apical four chamber view (0.550±0.361 vs 0.317±0.272 respectively, p=0.007), 3) the peak velocity of the regurgitant flow in parasternal long axis (180±77 vs 120±69 cm/sec., respectively, p=0.003), 4) the regurgitant jet area in parasternal long axis (0.813±0.651 vs 0.411±0.431 cm2, respectively, p=0.007). The maximal duration of MR/mean systolic time interval ?0.6, regurgitant jet area ?0.4cm2 , and regurgitant peak velocity ?130 cm/sec. in parasternal long axis dichotomize the cases into true MR with a predictive value of 76%, 67%, and 63%, respectively.
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