[Pulsed echo-Doppler sensitivity and specificity for evaluation of mitral and aortic valve insufficiency (author's transl)].

Our experience with pulsed-Doppler echocardiography in mitral and aortic valve insufficiency is reported. The data resulting from the echo-Doppler analysis were compared to those found in angiocardiography. Left ventriculography was positive for mitral insufficiency in 19 patients and negative in 17 patients. Aortography was positive for aortic insufficiency in 22 patients and negative in 15 patients. The echo-Doppler analysis showed a specificity of 94% and a sensitivity of 86% for mitral valve insufficiency. A specificity of 83% and a sensitivity of 91% was found for aortic valve insufficiency in supersternal notch view. The location of the sample volume and the morphology of the flow profile for each individual valvulopathy are described which proved considerably useful in current diagnostic practice. The possible causes of false positives and negative are discussed. In our series, the data obtained through echo-Doppler analysis were found to be only quantitative and it was not possible to quantity the regurgitation.