Assessing aortic regurgitation severity from 2D, M-mode and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic measurements in horses

Diagnostic value of noninvasive pulse pressure measurements in Warmblood horses with aortic regurgitation

“…Because indices of LV size were included in the AR severity scoring system used to classify AR severity, it is logical that these indices would be different among the AR severity subgroups. The extent of LV enlargement in the AR severity subgroups was similar to that recently reported in other studies assessing the severity of AR using echocardiographic measurements . However, it is also clear that horses with severe AR show signs of LA enlargement indicating the hemodynamic relevance of severe AR resulting in increased preload of both the LV and LA.…”

“…Horses in the AR group were further sorted according to the severity of regurgitation (mild, moderate, or severe), as judged by a scoring method that included subjective criteria (regurgitant jet size, LV size, and apex shape) as well as objective criteria (LVIV d(500) ). The scoring system was modified from that previously described in that LV volume rather than diameter was evaluated according to current hospital echocardiography standards (see Supplementary Table S1). Three clinicians (Julia Boegli, Colin C. Schwarzwald, Katharyn J. Mitchell), blinded to the previous clinical assessment of the horse, scored each horse, and the average of the 3 scores was used to sort the horses into 3 groups.…”

“…This assessment does not take LV size or shape into consideration, both of which are important for assessing the disease severity. A recent study proposed additional severity scoring criteria, including LV diameter and subjective LV appearance . This combined subjective and objective assessment of LV size, shape, and regurgitant jet size is currently the recommended approach for assessing the AR severity.…”

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Background: Noninvasive blood pressures (NIBP) and pulse pressures (PP) have not been published in horses with aortic and mitral regurgitation (AR or MR).Objectives: To investigate NIBP and PP in healthy Warmblood horses and horses with AR and MR and propose PP cutoffs to identify and stage AR severity.Animals: Seventy-three Warmblood horses (healthy,10; AR,31; MR,32).Methods: Retrospective study. All horses had NIBP and an echocardiogram recorded.Cases were categorized based on severity of regurgitation.

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Differences in ultrasound‐derived arterial wall stiffness parameters and noninvasive blood pressure between Friesian horses and Warmblood horses

“…Images only were collected with a heart rate (HR) <50 beats per minute. Stroke volume (SV) was calculated as pulsed wave Doppler‐derived aortic velocity time integral (left parasternal view) multiplied by aortic valve cross‐sectional area (right parasternal view) . Cardiac output (CO) was determined as SV × HR.…”