SIMPLE METHOD FOR ESTIMATING MITRAL REGURGITATION BY DYE DILUTION CURVES

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Abstract
A ratio called the appearance-time ratio was calculated spread from dye dilution curves plotted on semi-logarithmic paper with time as abscissa and concentrations as ordinate. Spread is defined as the time in seconds between the ascending and descending limbs of the curve at an arbitrary figure of 0.1 of the maximum concentration. This ratio varied between 1.5 and 2.9 in 21 patients without valvular disease. With increasing valvular regurgitation as judged clinically the ratio becomes greater reaching as high as 16.0 in severe cases. It is felt on the basis of this small series that this empirical test appears to give reasonable results in aiding to establish the absence or presence of significant mitral regurgitation.