[Evaluation of the severity of aortic stenosis using 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography].

Hemodynamic evaluation of aortic ostial stenosis (AOS) was made in 89 patients at Doppler echocardiography. Maximal circulation rate (MCR) through the aortic valve averaged 3.47 +/- 0.073 m/s, maximal transaortic pressure gradient (TPG) made up 49.97 +/- 2.11 mm Hg, the aortic ostium area (AOA) amounted to 0.85 +/- 0.031 sm2. It was established that AOA evaluation is most reasonable, as MCR and TPG vary with cardiac output. Especially desirable this measurement is believed in patients with TPG under 64 mm Hg and small left ventricular ejection. Mitral regurgitation is a frequent finding in AOS patients. Unless calcinosis of the mitral ring, mitral valve affection would be absent. In mitral regurgitation the disease took a more severe course, the patients having reduced AOA and left ventricular ejection, though larger end-diastolic diameter and end-diastolic volume. The emergence of mitral regurgitation in AOS is a result of left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation suggesting a low compensatory reserve of the myocardium.