cardiovascular disorders
Mitral Regurgitation
Diagnosis of Mitral Regurgitation
Echocardiography An ECG and chest x-ray are usually done initially although findings are not specific for mitral regurgitation. ECGmay show LA enlargement and LV hypertrophy with or without ischemia. Sinus rhythm is usually present when MR is acute because the atria have not had time to stretch and remodel. Chest x-rayin acute MR may show pulmonary edema; abnormalities in cardiac silhouette are not evident unless an underlying chronic disorder is also present. Chest x-ray in chronic MR may show LA and LV enlargement (see image Chest X-Ray (Prosthetic Heart Valve)). It may also show pulmonary vascular congestion and pulmonary edema with heart failure. Diagnosis of mitral regurgitation is suspected clinically and confirmed by Echocardiography . Doppler echocardiography is used to detect regurgitant flow and pulmonary hypertension. Two-dimensional or 3-dimensional echocardiography is used to determine the cause and severity of MR (see table When it is acute, severe MR may not be apparent on color Doppler echocardiography, but suspicion is raised when acute heart failure is accompanied by hyperdynamic LV systolic function. transesophageal Echocardiography None Cardiac Catheterization None Stress Testing None 