Sensitivity and specificity of pulsed Doppler echocardiography in detection of aortic and mitral regurgitation

• Published in: European heart journal 1984-05, Vol.5 (5), p.404-411
• Main Authors: WAUTRECHT, J. C., VANDENBOSSCHE, J. L., ENGLERT, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aortic regurgitation; Aortic Valve Insufficiency - diagnosis; Aortic Valve Insufficiency - diagnostic imaging; Aortography - methods; cine angiography; Echocardiography - methods; Female; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Male; Mitral regurgitation; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - diagnosis; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - diagnostic imaging; pulsed Doppler echocardiography
• ISSN: 0195-668X; 1522-9645
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.eurheartj.a061674

In order to assess the value of pulsed Doppler echocardiography in detection of valvular regurgitation, 63 patients were evaluated for aortic and/or mitral regurgitation using pulsed Doppler echocardiography and selective cineangiography. The Doppler study was considered as positive when a turbulent flow was detected below the aortic valve for aortic insufficiency and behind the mitral valve for mitral insufficiency on a graphic display (time interval histogram) when technically adequate and⊘or on an audiosignal. These results were compared with standard angiographic evaluation of the regurgitation: pulsed Doppler echocardiography had 94% sensitivity and the specificity rate was very high (87.5%) even for mild regurgitation. Thus, Doppler technique is highly specific and sensitive in detection of aortic and mitral regurgitation when both audiosignal and time interval histogram are simultaneously performed.