Grading severity of aortic regurgitation by echocardiography

	Mild (1+)	Moderate (2+)	Severe (3 to 4+)
Vena contracta width	<0.3 cm	0.3 to 0.6 cm	>0.6 cm
Jet width/LVOT ratio (for central jets)	<25%	25 to 64%	≥65%
Pressure half time	>500 ms	200 to 500 ms	<200 ms
Diastolic flow reversal in descending aorta	Brief early diastolic flow reversal	Intermediate	Prominent holodiastolic flow reversal

Echocardiographic variables used to assess aortic regurgitation. With acute aortic regurgitation, there is early closure of the mitral valve (before the R wave) and flow reversal in the proximal descending aorta may not be holodiastolic.

LVOT: left ventricular outflow tract.

Graphic 106997 Version 3.0

Buy a Package

Grading severity of aortic regurgitation by echocardiography