Validation of the peak to mean pressure decrease ratio as a new method of assessing aortic stenosis using the Gorlin formula and the cardiovascular magnetic resonance-based hybrid method.

BACKGROUND: We sought to validate the recently introduced peak to mean pressure decrease ratio (PMPDR), using the Gorlin formula and a hybrid method which combines cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived stroke volume with transaortic Doppler measurements to calculate aortic valve area (AVA).
METHODS: Data analysis in 32 patients with severe (AVA <or= 0.75 cm(2)) or moderate aortic stenosis who had prospectively been entered into our aortic stenosis database.
RESULTS: Gorlin-derived AVA was 0.61 +/- 0.10 cm(2) in severe and 0.92 +/- 0.14 cm(2) in moderate aortic stenosis (P < 0.01). Corresponding values for PMPRD were 1.61 +/- 0.10 and 1.73 +/- 0.18, respectively (P < 0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for PMPDR <1.5 to predict severe aortic stenosis were 0.12, 0.92, 0.67, and 0.44 as assessed by the Gorlin formula.
CONCLUSIONS: Using the Gorlin formula as the reference standard, our study confirms results of a previously reported study on the performance of PMPDR for assessment of aortic stenosis.