Key result
Selective pulmonary vein Doppler unmasks eccentric mitral regurgitation causing ~89% of cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema.
Why the study?
Eccentric mitral regurgitation jets can mimic unilateral pulmonary pathology, complicating diagnosis especially when coexisting with community-acquired pneumonia, which has not been well characterized.
Case Report
Selective pulmonary vein Doppler may be useful in diagnosing eccentric mitral regurgitation causing unilateral pulmonary edema, especially when it mimics or coexists with community-acquired pneumonia.
Eccentric MR may explain unilateral edema mimicking pneumonia; leaves open prospective validation of selective pulmonary vein Doppler.
Mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the most prevalent valvular heart diseases, affecting up to 10% of the adult population.1 Eccentric MR jets, directed preferentially toward a single pulmonary vein (PVein) due to jet eccentricity, can focally elevate pulmonary venous pressure and produce ipsilateral pulmonary findings. This mechanism accounts for up to 89% of cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema cases.2 Prior published cases have generally presented in clinical isolation3-6; the diagnostic difficulty created by coexisting community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), where infection provides a radiographically complete alternative explanation, has not been well characterized.
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Karaali et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Eccentric mitral regurgitation and community-acquired pneumonia. Selective Pulmonary Vein Doppler was evaluated. Selective pulmonary vein Doppler can unmask eccentric mitral regurgitation mimicking persistent pneumonia, which accounts for up to 89% of cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema cases.
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