Hemodynamic exercise response in rheumatic mitral stenosis: an echo-doppler study

ABSTRACT

The effects of exercise on patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis were investigated using echocardiography. Twenty-five patients in sinus rhythm with no contraindication to exercise were subjected to sub-maximal treadmill exercise according to modified Bruce protocol. A heterogeneous response depending mainly on the degree of mitral valve destruction was noticed. Patients with the same valve areas at rest did not have the same response to exercise. This might explain the difference in severity of symptoms in patients with the same valve areas at rest. It has been concluded that hemodynamic exercise response in patients with mitral stenosis evaluated by Doppler echocardiography immediately after sub-maximal exercise treadmill test is a useful method for evaluation of these patients and gives a better insight of the disease