The usefulness of left ventricular volume and aortic diastolic flow reversal for grading chronic aortic regurgitation severity-Using cardiovascular magnetic resonance as reference

• Echocardiographic evaluation of chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) severity can lead to diagnostic ambiguity due to few feasible parameters or incongruent findings. The aim of the present study was to improve the diagnostic usefulness of left ventricular (LV) enlargement and aortic end-diastolic flow velocity (EDFV) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) as reference. Patients (n = 120) were recruited either prospectively (n = 45) or retrospectively (n = 75). Severe AR (CMR regurgitant fraction 75/87 ml/m2) were identified using ROC analyses in the derivation group. The corresponding thresholds for EDFV were 10 cm/s. In the test group, the positive/negative likelihood ratios to rule in/rule out severe AR using EDVI were 10.0/0.14 (traditional), 6.2/0.11 (recommended), and using EDFV were 10.2/0.08. To rule in and rule out severe AR using derived cut-off values instead of 2 SD reduced the false positives by 92%, whereas using EDFV <10 cm/s instead of <20 cm/s reduced the false negatives by 94%. In conclusion, EDVI and EDFV as quantitative parameters are useful to rule in or rule out severe chronic AR. Importantly, other causes of LV enlargement have to be considered.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Aortic regurgitation

Left ventricular volume

Aortic diastolic flow

reversal

Echocardiography

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance

european-association

american-society

chamber quantification

echocardiography

recommendations

velocity

Cardiovascular System & Cardiology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)