Mitral valve prolapse: comparative value of m-mode, two-dimensional and doppler echocardiography

M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography were used to assess the comparative value of each in the detection of clinically diagnosed mitral valve prolapse; 125 consecutive patients with a mid- to late systolic click, with or without a late systolic murmur, were included. There were 46 men and 79 women; their mean age was 42 years. M-mode echocardiography detected 62 of 125 cases (sensitivity 50%). Two-dimensional echocardiography was positive in 85 cases (sensitivity 68%) and 90 cases were detected with Doppler echocardiography (sensitivity 72%). When all three techniques were combined, 116 cases were correctly diagnosed (total echographic sensitivity 93%). The relative insensitivity of the M-mode technique and the additive value of two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography in the detection of auscultatory mitral prolapse are emphasized.