Contrast agent increases Doppler velocities and improves reproducibility of aortic valve area measurements in patients with aortic stenosis

Lindsay A Smith, S Joanna Cowell, Audrey C White, Nicholas A Boon, David E Newby, David B Northridge

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Observer variability may limit assessment of aortic stenosis by Doppler echocardiography. This study aimed to assess whether echocardiographic contrast agent improves reproducibility of aortic valve area (AVA) measurements for patients with aortic stenosis. In all, 20 patients with aortic stenosis (67 +/- 10 years old) underwent noncontrast and contrast Doppler echocardiography on 2 occasions, 3 weeks apart. Intraobserver and interobserver coefficients of reproducibility were 0.36 and 0.20 cm for left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter, and 0.38 and 0.24 cm(2) for AVA, respectively. Although intraobserver reproducibility was unaffected, contrast improved interobserver reproducibility for LVOT diameter (mean of differences -0.02 +/- 0.07 cm vs 0.01 +/- 0.10 cm, P
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)247-52
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of The American Society of Echocardiography
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

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