[Minimal pulmonary regurgitation (pulsed Doppler echocardiography findings) in the absence of pulmonary valve defect].

A diastolic turbulent flow of pulmonary regurgitation with the maximum velocity of no more than 1.5 m/sec and prevalence in the exit portion of the right ventricle up to 17 mm was detected in 36 patients with cardiac and pulmonary diseases and apparently healthy individuals without organic pulmonary valve lesion and diastolic localization at the respective site, by using pulsed Doppler echocardiography. The highest diastolic transpulmonary pressure gradient estimated by a modified Bernulli's equation was no more than 9 mm Hg (within the range of normal values for diastolic pulmonary artery-right ventricle pressure gradient). Asymptomatic subclinical pulmonary regurgitation of physiological and functional nature without substantial hemodynamic significance which has been detected in these patients cannot be regarded as a manifestation of pulmonary valve defect.