Duroziez's sign

Duroziez's sign (pronounced: du-ro-zee-ayz sign) is a clinical sign in medicine, specifically in cardiology, that is indicative of aortic insufficiency. It is named after the French physician Paul Louis Duroziez who first described it in 1861.

Pronunciation

The term is pronounced as du-ro-zee-ayz sign.

Etymology

The sign is named after Paul Louis Duroziez, a French physician who first described the sign in 1861.

Definition

Duroziez's sign is a clinical sign characterized by a systolic and diastolic murmur heard over the femoral artery when it is gradually compressed with the bell of a stethoscope. The systolic murmur is heard during the contraction of the heart, while the diastolic murmur is heard during the relaxation phase.

Clinical Significance

Duroziez's sign is indicative of aortic insufficiency, a condition where the aortic valve does not close tightly, causing blood to leak back into the left ventricle. However, it is not a very specific sign and is not commonly used in clinical practice today.

Related Terms

Aortic insufficiency: A condition where the aortic valve does not close tightly, causing blood to leak back into the left ventricle.
Murmur: A sound due to vibrations from the flow of blood through the heart or great vessels.
Systolic: The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries.
Diastolic: The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood.