Table 3.
Summary Comparison of Rheumatic and Degenerative Mitral Stenosis
| Rheumatic mitral stenosis | Degenerative mitral stenosis | |
|---|---|---|
| Prevalence with age | Any age >5 y | Increasing with advanced age |
| Pathophysiology | Autoimmune cross-reactivity with Strep A antigen; inflammatory tissue damage | Degenerative (age) or disordered calcium metabolism |
| Qualitative assessment | Chordal shortening | Annular calcification |
| Leaflet thickening | Sparing of leaflet tips and subvalvular apparatus unless advanced | |
| Reduced leaflet mobility (posterior > anterior) | Calcific shadowing | |
| Commissural fusion (3D TEE) | ||
| Quantitative assessment | 2D planimetry | 2D planimetry—may be unreliable |
| 3D planimetry; pressure gradients | 3D planimetry; pressure gradients—may be unreliable | |
| MVA by PHT | MVA by PHT—may be unreliable | |
| MVA by continuity equation | MVA by continuity equation | |
| MVA by PISA | MVA by PISA | |
| Associated findings | Aortic regurgitation tricuspid regurgitation (functional) | Aortic stenosis; LVH; hypertension |
| Infective endocarditis | Diastolic dysfunction |
2D = two-dimensional; 3D = three-dimensional; LVH = left ventricular hypertrophy; MVA = mitral valve area; PHT = pressure half-time; PISA = proximal isovelocity surface area; TEE = transesophageal echocardiography.