[Echocardiographic determination of the severity of mitral stenosis by the mitral valve closure index (author's transl)].

In 34 patients with mitral stenosis or combined mitral valve disease class II, III or IV (NYHA), the mitral valve closure index (MVCI, Shiu et al. 1977), based on the rate of diastolic apposition of the anterior and posterior mitral leaflet echos, and the diastolic closure rate (EF-slope) were determined and compared with hemodynamic data such as mean left atrial pressure (PLA), mean diastolic pressure gradient across the stenotic valve (DP) and mitral valve orifice area (Q), calculated by the Gorlin formula. MVCI and EF-slope correlated more favorably with DP (MVCIr = -0.71, EF-sloper = -0.53) than with Q and PLA. The results were not different in patients with sinus rhythm or atrial fibrillation. Using MVCI or EF-slope thie discrimination between severe and moderate or between moderate and light mitral stenosis was uncertain. Nevertheless, MVCI below 30 was associated with light, above 50 with severe mitral stenosis. In spite of the relationship between MVCI or EF-slope and the severity of mitral stenosis, in the individual case an exact quantification of mitral stenosis is not possible due to the great variability of echocardiographic data. For the assessment of the severity of mitral stenosis the mitral valve closure index is not superior to the EF-slope.