Abstract
The purpose of this study is the quantitative analysis of the apical diastolic murmur in mitral stenosis. Phonocardiographically, this murmur can be classified into 7 types and there is a certain relation between these types and the severity of the disease. After exercise PA-pressure is elevated in cases of mitral stenosis and, simultaneously, the diastolic murmur changes its nature. The most striking change is that the diastolic murmur increases its amplitude throughout the different components. Since, by contrast, exercise causes no change in the amplitude of the apical 2nd sound, this sound can serve as the standard of reference to which the change in the amplitude of apical diastolic murmur can be compared. The timing of the apical diastolic murmur in the cardiac cycle has a close relation ship with the severity of mitral stenosis.
