ABSTRACT
Long-term echocardiographic follow-up studies of mitral balloon valvuloplasty [MBV] are scarce. The study aim was to assess the long-term results [up to 18 years] of MBV and to identify predictors of restenosis and event-free survival. The immediate and long-term clinical and echocardiographic results for 531 consecutive patients [mean age 31 +/- 11 years] who underwent successful MBV for severe mitral stenosis [MS] and were followed up for a mean of 8.5 +/- 4.8 years [range: 1 .5 to 18 years] after MBV are reported. Immediately after MBV, the mitral valve area [MVA] was increased from 0.92 +/- 0.17 cm[2] to 1.95 +/- 0.29 cm[2] [p< 0.0001]. Restenosis occurred in 165 patients [31%], and was less frequent [19%] in patients with a low mitral echo score [MES 8 [p< 0.001]. Event-free survival [death, redo MBV, mitral valve replacement, NYHA class III or IV] at 10, 15 and 18 years was 88 +/- 1%, 53 +/- 4%, and 21 +/- 5% respectively, and was significantly higher for patients with MES 8 [p< 0.0001] and previous surgery [p= 0.043] as predictors of restenosis, and MES >8 [p< 0.0001] and baseline atrial fibrillation [p=0.03] as predictors of combined events. MBV provides excellent long-term results for selected patients with MS. The long-term outcome of this procedure can be predicted from the baseline clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of the mitral valve