Progression of mild mitral stenosis and incidence of restenosis after open commissurotomy: A study using echocardiography

Thirteen patients with mild mitral stenosis and 21 asymptomatic patients after commissurotomy were studied by echocardiography in order to assess the rate of progression of mitral stenosis and the incidence of restenosis after successful open mitral commissurotomy. In the group with mitral stenosis there was a decrease of the diastolic closing velocity (E-F slope) from 35.7 to 29.5 mm./sec. (p < 0.0005) over a period of 37 months. In 23% of the patients the stenosis increased significantly (p < 0.0005) by echocardiographic parameters.