Mitral stenosis is a condition in which the mitral valve becomes narrowed or stiff, impeding the normal flow of blood from the left atrium into the left ventricle during diastole. The most common cause historically has been rheumatic heart disease, though it can also result from calcification with aging. On echocardiography, a stenotic mitral valve appears thickened with restricted leaflet motion, and the valve opening area can be measured by planimetry or calculated using the pressure half-time method. Doppler ultrasound reveals elevated velocities across the valve and increased pressure gradients. Over time, mitral stenosis leads to left atrial enlargement, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure.
Sonography Term