A comparison of left ventricular volumes and regurgitant fraction by Doppler echocardiography and angiography in children.

Regurgitant fraction calculations by echocardiography were compared to angiocardiography in 11 patients with mitral regurgitation. Although there was a very good correlation when compared with angiocardiography (r = 0.99, SEE: 6.26, P< 0.001), two-dimensional echocardiography underestimated left ventricular end-diastolic volumes (P < 0.05). The mean regurgitant fraction was 36.2 ± 13.5% by echocardiography and 43.6 ± 15.7% (P< 0.05) by angiography. Most of the variability in measuring the regurgitant fraction is attributed to the left ventricular volume measurements. In conclusion, regurgitant fraction calculations of mitral regurgitation by echocardiography compares favorably to angiography. Since the severity of mitral regurgitation is an important determinant of prognosis, quantification of the regurgitant fraction may be useful in the long term follow-up of those patients.