CLINICAL STUDY
Quantitation of functional mitral regurgitation during bicycle exercise in patients with heart failure
Frédéric Lebrun, MDa,
Patrizio Lancellotti, MDa and
Luc A. Piérard, MD, PhD, FESC*,a
a Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Liège, Liege, Belgium
Manuscript received February 8, 2001;
revised manuscript received July 17, 2001,
accepted August 13, 2001.
* Reprint requests and correspondence: Prof. Luc A. Piérard, University Hospital Liège, Division of Cardiology, Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman B 35, 4000 Liège, Belgium lpierard{at}chu.ulg.ac.be
OBJECTIVES
We sought to examine the feasibility and reliability of quantifying mitral regurgitation (MR) during exercise by Doppler echocardiography in patients with heart failure and to assess the relationship between dynamic MR and systolic pulmonary artery pressure changes.
BACKGROUND
The severity of MR can be quantified by using several echocardiographic methods. Quantitation of MR during dynamic exercise has not yet been performed.
METHODS
Symptom-limited, semi-supine two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms during bicycle exercise were obtained in 27 consecutive patients with heart failure and functional MR. Regurgitant volume was measured at rest and during exercise by the proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method and by quantitative Doppler echocardiography. Exercise-induced changes in regurgitant volume were compared with changes in the regurgitant jet area to left atrial area ratio, vena contracta width and trans-tricuspid pressure gradient.
RESULTS
The regurgitant volume measured by the PISA method increased from 21 ± 12 ml (range 5 to 55) at rest to 39 ± 23 ml (range 8 to 85) during exercise (p < 0.0001). The difference between two observers was low for both rest (2.0 ± 2.7 ml) and exercise measurements (3.5 ± 6.2 ml). The regurgitant volume measured by quantitative Doppler echocardiography increased from 29 ± 13 to 49 ± 24 ml (p = 0.0001). Excellent correlation between the two methods was obtained with exercise (r = 0.92). Exercise-induced changes in regurgitant volume, as measured by the PISA method, correlated well with regurgitant volume changes measured by quantitative Doppler echocardiography (r = 0.88), changes in vena contracta width (r = 0.82) and changes in trans-tricuspid pressure gradient (r = 0.73), but not with changes in regurgitant jet area to left atrial area ratio (r = 0.29). Seventeen patients stopped exercise because of fatigue and 10 because of dyspnea. These 10 patients exhibited greater increases in regurgitant volume (34 ± 6 vs. 11 ± 8 ml), corresponding to a significant elevation of the trans-tricuspid gradient (48 ± 14 vs. 20 ± 14 mm Hg).
CONCLUSIONS
Quantitation of functional MR during exercise is feasible in patients with heart failure. There is a good correlation between regurgitant volume measured during exercise by the PISA method and that obtained by quantitative Doppler echocardiography, suggesting that the technique is reliable. An increase in mitral regurgitant volume during dynamic exercise correlates well with elevation of systolic pulmonary artery pressure.
|
Abbreviations and Acronyms
| | ECG | = electrocardiogram or electrocardiographic | | LV | = left ventricular or ventricle | | MR | = mitral regurgitation | | NYHA | = New York Heart Association | | PISA | = proximal isovelocity surface area |
|
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Fattouch, F. Guccione, R. Sampognaro, G. Panzarella, E. Corrado, E. Navarra, D. Calvaruso, and G. Ruvolo
POINT: Efficacy of adding mitral valve restrictive annuloplasty to coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with moderate ischemic mitral valve regurgitation: a randomized trial.
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.,
August 1, 2009;
138(2):
278 - 285.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Schofer, T. Siminiak, M. Haude, J. P. Herrman, J. Vainer, J. C. Wu, W. C. Levy, L. Mauri, T. Feldman, R. Y. Kwong, et al.
Percutaneous Mitral Annuloplasty for Functional Mitral Regurgitation: Results of the CARILLON Mitral Annuloplasty Device European Union Study
Circulation,
July 28, 2009;
120(4):
326 - 333.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Vahanian, B. Iung, L. Piérard, R. Dion, and J. Pepper
CHAPTER 21 Valvular Heart Disease
ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine,
January 1, 2009;
2(1):
med-9780199566990-chapter - med-9780199566990-chapter.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
F. I. Parthenakis, A. P. Patrianakos, E. N. Simantirakis, and P. E. Vardas
CRT and exercise capacity in heart failure: the impact of mitral valve regurgitation
Europace,
November 1, 2008;
10(suppl_3):
iii96 - iii100.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Lancellotti, B. Cosyns, and L. A. Pierard
Dynamic left ventricular dyssynchrony contributes to B-type natriuretic peptide release during exercise in patients with systolic heart failure
Europace,
April 1, 2008;
10(4):
496 - 501.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Ypenburg, P. Lancellotti, L. F. Tops, E. Boersma, G. B. Bleeker, E. R. Holman, J. D. Thomas, M. J. Schalij, L. A. Pierard, and J. J. Bax
Mechanism of improvement in mitral regurgitation after cardiac resynchronization therapy
Eur. Heart J.,
March 2, 2008;
29(6):
757 - 765.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Agricola, M. Oppizzi, M. Pisani, A. Meris, F. Maisano, and A. Margonato
Ischemic mitral regurgitation: mechanisms and echocardiographic classification
Eur J Echocardiogr,
March 1, 2008;
9(2):
207 - 221.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Peteiro, I. Bendayan, J. Marinas, R. Campos, B. Bouzas, and A. Castro-Beiras
Prognostic value of mitral regurgitation assessment during exercise echocardiography in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: A follow-up study of 1.7 {+/-} 1.5 years
Eur J Echocardiogr,
January 1, 2008;
9(1):
18 - 25.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Lancellotti, E. Donal, B. Cosyns, G. Van Camp, J.-L. Monin, E. Brochet, A. Berrebi, P. Pibarot, C. Chauvel, C. Hassager, et al.
Effects of surgery on ischaemic mitral regurgitation: a prospective multicentre registry (SIMRAM registry)
Eur J Echocardiogr,
January 1, 2008;
9(1):
26 - 30.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Ypenburg, P. Lancellotti, L. F. Tops, G. B. Bleeker, E. R. Holman, L. A. Pierard, M. J. Schalij, and J. J. Bax
Acute Effects of Initiation and Withdrawal of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy on Papillary Muscle Dyssynchrony and Mitral Regurgitation
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.,
November 20, 2007;
50(21):
2071 - 2077.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. A. Pierard
Echocardiographic Monitoring Throughout Exercise: Better Than the Post-Treadmill Approach?
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.,
November 6, 2007;
50(19):
1864 - 1866.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. A Pierard and P. Lancellotti
Stress testing in valve disease
Heart,
June 1, 2007;
93(6):
766 - 772.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. D'Andrea, P. Caso, S. Cuomo, R. Scarafile, G. Salerno, G. Limongelli, G. Di Salvo, S. Severino, L. Ascione, P. Calabro, et al.
Effect of dynamic myocardial dyssynchrony on mitral regurgitation during supine bicycle exercise stress echocardiography in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 'narrow' QRS
Eur. Heart J.,
April 2, 2007;
28(8):
1004 - 1011.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Tumminello, M. Guazzi, P. Lancellotti, and L. A. Pierard
Exercise ventilation inefficiency in heart failure: pathophysiological and clinical significance
Eur. Heart J.,
March 2, 2007;
28(6):
673 - 678.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Tumminello, P. Lancellotti, M. Lempereur, V. D'Orio, and L. A. Pierard
Determinants of pulmonary artery hypertension at rest and during exercise in patients with heart failure
Eur. Heart J.,
March 1, 2007;
28(5):
569 - 574.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Authors/Task Force Members, A. Vahanian, H. Baumgartner, J. Bax, E. Butchart, R. Dion, G. Filippatos, F. Flachskampf, R. Hall, B. Iung, et al.
Guidelines on the management of valvular heart disease: The Task Force on the Management of Valvular Heart Disease of the European Society of Cardiology
Eur. Heart J.,
January 26, 2007;
(2007)
ehl428v1.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P-V Ennezat, B Gal, C Kouakam, C Marquie, T LeTourneau, D Klug, D Lacroix, D Logeart, A Cohen-Solal, S Dennetiere, et al.
Cardiac resynchronisation therapy reduces functional mitral regurgitation during dynamic exercise in patients with chronic heart failure: an acute echocardiographic study
Heart,
August 1, 2006;
92(8):
1091 - 1095.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. V. Ennezat, S. Marechaux, T. Le Tourneau, N. Lamblin, C. Bauters, E. Van Belle, B. Gal, S. Kacet, P. Asseman, G. Deklunder, et al.
Myocardial asynchronism is a determinant of changes in functional mitral regurgitation severity during dynamic exercise in patients with chronic heart failure due to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Eur. Heart J.,
March 2, 2006;
27(6):
679 - 683.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. Giga, M. Ostojic, B. Vujisic-Tesic, A. Djordjevic-Dikic, J. Stepanovic, B. Beleslin, M. Petrovic, M. Nedeljkovic, I. Nedeljkovic, and N. Milic
Exercise-induced changes in mitral regurgitation in patients with prior myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction: relation to mitral deformation and left ventricular function and shape
Eur. Heart J.,
September 2, 2005;
26(18):
1860 - 1865.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Lancellotti and L. A. Pierard
Chronic ischaemic mitral regurgitation: exercise testing reveals its dynamic component
Eur. Heart J.,
September 2, 2005;
26(18):
1816 - 1817.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Lancellotti, F. Lebois, M. Simon, C. Tombeux, C. Chauvel, and L. A. Pierard
Prognostic Importance of Quantitative Exercise Doppler Echocardiography in Asymptomatic Valvular Aortic Stenosis
Circulation,
August 30, 2005;
112(9_suppl):
I-377 - I-382.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Lancellotti, P. L. Gerard, and L. A. Pierard
Long-term outcome of patients with heart failure and dynamic functional mitral regurgitation
Eur. Heart J.,
August 1, 2005;
26(15):
1528 - 1532.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. A. Pierard and P. Lancellotti
The Role of Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation in the Pathogenesis of Acute Pulmonary Edema
N. Engl. J. Med.,
October 14, 2004;
351(16):
1627 - 1634.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Lancellotti, F. Lebrun, and L. A. Pierard
Determinants of exercise-induced changes in mitral regurgitation in patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.,
December 3, 2003;
42(11):
1921 - 1928.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. A. Levine and J. Hung
Ischemic mitral regurgitation, the dynamic lesion: clues to the cure
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol.,
December 3, 2003;
42(11):
1929 - 1932.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Lancellotti, P. Troisfontaines, A.-C. Toussaint, and L. A. Pierard
Prognostic Importance of Exercise-Induced Changes in Mitral Regurgitation in Patients With Chronic Ischemic Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Circulation,
October 7, 2003;
108(14):
1713 - 1717.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|