Prevalence of Valvular regurgitation in normal children: a 2-dimensional and color doppler echocardiographic study

ABSTRACT

Doppler echocardiography in normal children by two-dimensional echocardiography [2D echo], shows some abnormal findings. Two hundred and eighteen normal children 1-15 years old with a mean +/- SD of 8.9 +/- 3.4 with normal 2D echo were examined by pulsed continuous and color Doppler echocardiography [152 children with conventional and 66 with color Doppler echocardiography]. Valvular regurgitation was detected in 82 children [37.1%]. Tricuspid regurgitation was the most commonly detected abnormality [22.4%]. Left-sided valvular regurgitation was rare [2.3%]. Color flow imaging [CFI] revealed higher prevalence [51.5%], and specificity [p < 0.005]. This study showed a high prevalence of right-sided valvular regurgitation. There was no significant age and sex difference between groups, and CFI was more sensitive