Simultaneous measurement of left atrial pressure by Doppler echocardiography and catheterization.

Simultaneous, continuous wave Doppler echocardiography, left ventricular systolic and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure measurements were performed during cardiac catheterization in 54 patients with mitral regurgitation. Doppler-derived left atrial pressure, which was calculated by subtracting mitral regurgitant gradient from brachial artery systolic pressure, correlated well with mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure by catheter (r = 0.933, SEE = 2.9 mmHg, P < 0.001); a comparison between non-invasive and invasive systolic gradients across the mitral valve yielded a high correlation (r = 0.91, SEE = 6.0 mmHg, P < 0.001); and there was also a high correlation between brachial artery and left ventricular systolic pressures (r = 0.93, SEE = 4.9 mmHg, P < 0.01). It is concluded that Doppler echocardiography provides a reliable and accurate method for complete non-invasive assessment of left atrial pressure in patients with mitral regurgitation.