Copyright © 1995 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1995 The European Society of Cardiology
Assessment of aortic regurgitation severity by magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic aorta




*Departments of Magnetic Resonance Marseille, France
Departments of Cardiology, Hôpital de la Timone Marseille, France
accepted 19 August 1994.
Correspondence. P Ambrosi, Hopital de la Timone. 13385 Marseille Cedex, France.
Abstract
A new method of assessing the severity of aortic regurgitation severity by magnetic resonance imaging has been developed. Two groups were studied: 20 controls (age=58 ± 19 years) without valvular aortic disease, and 24 patients (age=62 ± 13 years) with chronic aortic insufficiency evaluated by magnetic resonance and aortic root cineangiography within 1 week of each other. A magnetic resonance sequence (TR=35 mslTE=12 mslflip angle=20°/magnet=1.5 T) was acquired in a plane containing the thoracic aorta. A transverse saturation band 30 mm wide was positioned 3040 mm above the aortic valve. Aortic insufficiency was graded, the importance of end-diastolic retrograde movement in the saturation band in the descending aorta was noted. Magnetic resonance was also compared to Doppler echocardiography in 20 patients.
In the controls, we found that retrograde blood flow was absent (18/20) or mild (2/20). In contrast, the presence of marked retrograde movement in a saturation band across the thoracic aorta was always associated with severe aortic regurgitation (angiographic grade III or IV).
This rapid method (imaging time less than 20 min) can be applied in most patients with aortic regurgitation and is likely to be helpful when echocardiography is not possible or gives inconclusive results.
Key Words: Aortic regurgitation magnetic resonance imaging
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
J. F. Glockner, D. L Johnston, and K. P McGee Evaluation of Cardiac Valvular Disease with MR Imaging: Qualitative and Quantitative Techniques RadioGraphics, January 1, 2003; 23(1): e9 - e9. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
B. Iung, C. Gohlke-Barwolf, P. Tornos, C. Tribouilloy, R. Hall, E. Butchart, and A. Vahanian Recommendations on the management of the asymptomatic patient with valvular heart disease Eur. Heart J., August 2, 2002; 23(16): 1253 - 1266. [PDF] |
||||

