M-mode colour Doppler measurement of aortic regurgitant jet diameter ≥12 mm identified severe aortic regurgitation with 86.4% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity.
Observational (n=82)
Effect estimate: r = 0.88
To assess the value of measuring the aortic regurgitant jet diameter at its origin by M-mode colour Doppler imaging, 82 patients with aortic regurgitation underwent, within 72 h of each other, colour Doppler examination and angiography. After excluding one patient without colour Doppler aortic regurgitation and five with a highly eccentric regurgitant jet, we found a close relationship between the jet diameter at its origin measured by M-mode colour Doppler and the angiographic grade of aortic regurgitation (r = 0.88). A jet diameter greater than or equal to 12 mm identified severe aortic regurgitation (grade III or IV) with a sensitivity of 86.4% and a specificity of 94.4%. In 38 patients, the jet diameter correlated well with the regurgitant fraction measured by a combined haemodynamic-angiographic method (r = 0.88). A jet diameter greater than or equal to 12 mm identified a regurgitant fraction greater than or equal to 40% with a sensitivity of 88.2% and a specificity of 95.2%. This study indicates that the size of the regurgitant jet diameter at its origin measured by M-mode colour Doppler provides a simple and useful measure of the severity of aortic regurgitation. It may allow differentiation between mild or moderate and severe aortic regurgitation and evaluation of regurgitant fraction.
Tribouilloy et al. (1991) conducted an observational in Aortic regurgitation (n=82). M-mode colour Doppler flow imaging vs. Angiography was evaluated on Relationship between jet diameter at its origin and angiographic grade of aortic regurgitation (r = 0.88). M-mode colour Doppler measurement of aortic regurgitant jet diameter ≥12 mm identified severe aortic regurgitation with 86.4% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity.