Echocardiographic quantitation of mitral regurgitation

Mitral valve regurgitation is a common valvular problem, particularly in developing nations. It causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially if the severity of valve regurgitation is underestimated. Echocardiography plays a significant role in the diagnoses, serial follow-up and management of patients with valvular heart disease. However, precise quantitation of the severity of mitral regurgitation is a crucial element in the therapeutic decisions for managing mitral regurgitation. An accurate assessment of the severity of mitral regurgitation allows for optimal timing of surgical intervention, culminating in improved patient outcomes. This review provides a systematic approach to the quantitation of mitral regurgitation using the echocardiography and Doppler methodologies that are available in the modern noninvasive imaging and hemodynamic laboratory. Additional, novel and evolving noninvasive imaging modalities are reviewed briefly.