A Method for the Assessment of Mitral Valve Regurgitation Grade and Severity

Background: Previous grading and severity scores of MR were based on a mix of objective echocardiographic data and subjective findings such as the presence or absence of symptoms. There is a need for a grade - and a severity -score for Mitral Valve Regurgitation (MR) that is based purely on objective findings and avoids the ambiguity of labelling the same degree of MR differently according to symptoms severity and/or the underlying etiology. Methods: We reviewed published reports regarding MR severity and grades and provided a method for the assessment of MR severity and grades based purely on objective data regardless of the symptom(s) and/or underlying cause(s) of MR. Objective Echocardiographic and/or Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) findings of Vena Contracta (VC) size in cm2, Effective Regurgitant Orifice area (ERO) in cm2, Effective Regurgitant Volume (ERV) in mls/beat, and Regurgitation Fraction (RF) as a percentage of the left ventricular stroke volume, were given a score value of A, B, C or D with increasing severity, thus ranging from the mildest degree“A” to most severe “D”. Results: As summarized in Table 4, MR severity ranged between 4 “As” to 4 “Ds”. Further elaboration regarding the parameter(s) most severely affected may be added to the score value, e.g., scoring MR with a VC = 0.60 cm2 associated with EROA = 0.4cm2, ERV = 60mls and RF = 45% will be 2D (EROA and ERV) MR, thereby avoiding overlap between various degrees of MR and/or further data manipulation to make other parameters fit one grade of MR or another. Conclusion: Applying this scoring/grading system to Echocardiographic and/or CMR studies of patients with mitral valve regurgitation will enhance our endeavors to use a clear and unified language regarding MR severity without compromising the quality of Echocardiographic or CMR findings and/or reporting.

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Concordance and Discordance of Echocardiographic Parameters Recommended for Assessing the Severity of Mitral Regurgitation

Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1161/circimaging.119.010278 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Seth Uretsky ◽

Lillian Aldaia ◽

Leo Marcoff ◽

Konstantinos Koulogiannis ◽

Edgar Argulian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mitral Regurgitation ◽

Left Atrial ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Volume Index ◽

Regurgitant Volume ◽

Orifice Area ◽

Vena Contracta ◽

Echocardiographic Parameters ◽

American Society ◽

Regurgitant Orifice Area

Background: The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and American Society of Echocardiography guidelines recommend assessing several echocardiographic parameters when evaluating mitral regurgitation (MR) severity. These parameters can be discordant, making the assessment of MR challenging. The degree to which echocardiographic parameters of MR severity are concordant is not well studied. Methods: We enrolled 159 patients in a prospective multicenter study. Eight parameters were included in this analysis: proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA)–derived regurgitant volume, PISA-derived effective regurgitant orifice area, vena contracta, color Doppler jet/left atrial area, left atrial volume index, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, peak E wave, and the presence of pulmonary vein systolic reversal. Each echocardiographic parameter was determined to represent severe or nonsevere MR according to the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. A concordance score was calculated as so that a higher score reflects greater concordance. There was no discordance when all the echocardiographic parameters agreed and high discordance when 3 or 4 parameters were discordant. Results: The mean concordance score was 75±14% for the entire cohort. There were 9 (6%) patients with complete agreement of all parameters and 61 (38%) with high discordance. There was greater discordance in patients with severe MR but no difference between primary versus secondary or central versus eccentric jets. There was an improvement in concordance when only considering PISA-based regurgitant volume, PISA-based effective regurgitant orifice area, and vena contracta with agreement in 68% of patients. Conclusions: There was limited concordance between the echocardiographic parameters of MR severity, and the discordance was worse with more severe MR. Concordance improved when considering only 3 quantitative measures of vena contracta and PISA-based effective regurgitant orifice area and regurgitant volume. These findings highlight the challenges facing echocardiographers when assessing the severity of MR and emphasize the difficulty of using an integrated approach that incorporates multiple components. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT04038879.

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