What does Mr severe means in echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. it is useful when looking at the function of the cardiac muscle as well as the cardiac valves. The mitral valve separates the left atrium from the ventricle. MR refers to Mitral Regurgitation which is when the valve becomes floppy from a number of causes including mitral valve prolapse, connective tissue disease, rheumatic heart disease or myocardial infarction and allows blood to flow from the left ventricle back into the left atrium during systole. Markers of severity on echocardiography include a regurgitant fraction of >50% or total volume > 60mls. Severe MR can result in progressive heart failure and often requires valve replacement surgery to correct.
