Radiology, Vol 127, 751-754, Copyright © 1978 by Radiological Society of North America
The relationship between aortic valve closure and aortic root motion
WC Reeves, NC Nanda and R Gramiak
The minimum interval between aortic valve closure and the onset of
posterior motion of the posterior aortic wall (C--PW) was obtained from
M-mode echographic studies in normal subjects and patients with mitral
regurgitation (MR), rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), mixed rheumatic MS and
MR, pure aortic stenosis (AS), and pure aortic insufficiency. Three-
fourths of the patients with MR and 2/3 of those with AS had short C-- PW
intervals. Short C--PW intervals are probably the result of early mitral
valve opening with rapid LA emptying, whereas slow emptying due to dilated,
relatively inert left atria may account for normal C--PW intervals in
patients with MR. C--PW intervals are affected by both ventricular ejection
and LA dynamics and may prove useful in evaluating suspected mitral or
aortic valve disease.
