Which of the following is a 2D finding associated with moderate to severe chronic mitral regurgitation?

Which of the following is a 2D finding associated with moderate to severe chronic mitral regurgitation?

• A. Increased left atrial size
• B. Left ventricular dilation
• C. Volume overload
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Chronic moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation creates a volume overload of the left heart. The regurgitant blood that escapes into the left atrium increases the preload of both the atrium and the ventricle because some of that volume returns to the ventricle during diastole. In response, the left atrium enlarges to accommodate the extra volume, and the left ventricle dilates due to the increased preload and the heart’s remodeling to handle the higher volume (eccentric hypertrophy). On 2D imaging you typically see a enlarged left atrium and an enlarged left ventricle, reflecting this volume-overload state. Since the volume overload drives these structural changes, all of these findings are associated with moderate-to-severe chronic MR.

Chronic moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation creates a volume overload of the left heart. The regurgitant blood that escapes into the left atrium increases the preload of both the atrium and the ventricle because some of that volume returns to the ventricle during diastole. In response, the left atrium enlarges to accommodate the extra volume, and the left ventricle dilates due to the increased preload and the heart’s remodeling to handle the higher volume (eccentric hypertrophy). On 2D imaging you typically see a enlarged left atrium and an enlarged left ventricle, reflecting this volume-overload state. Since the volume overload drives these structural changes, all of these findings are associated with moderate-to-severe chronic MR.