Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMV) has been proposed as an alternative to surgery for selected patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis. The presence of mild mitral regurgitation (MR) in mitral KERN=5535>stenosis is usually not considered as a contraindication for the procedure. But, the results of PMV in the subgroup KERN=>of patients with concomitant mild MR are unknown. Accordingly, this study evaluates the clinical outcome of a consecutive series of patients with mitral stenosis and mild MR undergoing PMV.

Between August 1992 and December 1996 we attempted to dilate the mitral valves of 43 consecutive patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis. Mean age of the group was 45.9±10.6 years and 37 patients were women. They were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of mild MR before the procedure. Clinical feature, inital result, complication were compared.

1) Age, gender, symptomatic status, and atrial fibrillation were similar in both groups. 2) Patients with MR had more thickened valve (2.50±0.33 vs 1.84±0.55, p=0.048) and subvalvular tissue (2.55±0.73 vs 1.88±0.73, p=0.015), higher echocardiographic score (8.44±1.01 vs 7.08±1.65, p=0.004). 3) Mitral valve area gain on the first day after PMV was smaller in patients with MR (p=0.008). 4) The success rate of PMV, the incidence of severe MR after PMV, and the restenosis rate on 6 month were similar in both groups.

Although the PMV in patients with mild MR obtained smaller increments in mitral valve area compared to those without MR, they showed similar immediate and short-term results after PMV.