[Stress echocardiography and mitral stenosis: what interest?]

ABSTRACT

The stress echocardiography is used extensively as a diagnostic and prognostic tool and the assessment of ischemic cardiopathies. Its use in valvulopathies is more limited, but is increasing with time. The discrepancies between the functional symptoms and hemodynamics at rest is frequently met in patients with mitral stenosis. By assessing changes of pressures, gradients and surface stress echocardiography helps to identify the real hemodynamic conditions permitting to recommend a more aggressive approach in certain situations