2021, Number 4
Cardiovasc Metab Sci 2021; 32 (4)
The emerging added value of cardiac magnetic resonance over echocardiography in the assessment of functional mitral regurgitation
Chango-Azanza, Diego X; Rosales-Uvera, Sandra; Vásquez, Zuilma; Munín, Martin A; Obregón, Ricardo
ABSTRACT
According to a new conceptual viewpoint, functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is consistent with a variety of structural and dynamic characteristics in several clinical scenarios regarding the involvement of the left ventricle (LV) and the mitral valve (MV) integrity. Echocardiography is, for sure, the first-line cardiac modality to the classification of the etiology and the severity of FMR. However, it does not provide complete and accurate information on the LV compromise and tends to have some methodological errors in calculations. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold standard technique for LV volumes, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and could fully integrate LV tissue characterization in several cardiomyopathies and allow the quantitative estimation of the severity valve insufficiency and could help to guide better clinical decision-making.