Extramitral Valvular Cardiac Involvement in Patients With Significant Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

Patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) often have extramitral valve cardiac involvement, which can influence the prognosis. SMR can be defined according to groups of extramitral valve cardiac involvement. The prognostic implications of such groups in patients with moderate and severe SMR (significant SMR) are unknown. A total of 325 patients with significant SMR were classified according to the extent of cardiac involvement on echocardiography: left ventricular involvement (group 1), left atrial involvement (group 2), tricuspid valve and pulmonary artery vasculature involvement (group 3), or right ventricular involvement (group 4). The primary end point was all-cause mortality. The prevalence of each cardiac involvement group was 17% in group 1, 12% in group 2, 23% in group 3%, and 48% in group 4. Group 3 and group 4 were independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.794, 95% confidence interval 1.067 to 3.015, p = 0.027 and hazard ratio 1.857, 95% confidence interval 1.145 to 3.012, p = 0.012, respectively). In conclusion, progressive extramitral valve cardiac involvement (group 3 and group 4) was independently associated with all-cause mortality in patients with significant SMR.

Sex differences in prognosis of significant secondary mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: Secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) is more frequent in men than in women. However, little is known about differences in prognosis between men and women with secondary MR. The objective of this study is to investigate the sex distribution of secondary MR and the prognostic differences between sexes. METHODS: Patients with significant secondary MR, of both ischaemic and non-ischaemic aetiologies, were identified through the departmental electronic patient files and retrospectively analysed. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 698 patients (mean age 66 ± 11 years) with significant secondary MR were included: 471 (67%) men and 227 (33%) women. Ischaemic heart failure was significantly more common in men (61%), whereas non-ischaemic heart failure was more prevalent in women (63%). Women had significantly smaller left ventricular (LV) volumes when compared with men and more preserved LV systolic function when assessed with LV global longitudinal strain (GLS; 8.5 ± 4.1% vs. 7.5 ± 3.6%; P = 0.004). Women more often underwent surgical mitral valve repair (34%) when compared with men (26%), although no differences were observed for transcatheter mitral valve repair. During a median follow-up of 57 [interquartile range 29-110] months, 373 (53%) patients died. Women showed significantly lower mortality rates at 1-, 2- and 5-year follow-up (9%, 16% and 33% vs. 10%, 20% and 42%) when compared with men (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Significant secondary MR is more frequently observed in men as compared with women and is associated with worse prognosis.

Mitral Valve Annulus Dimensions Assessment with Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Versus Computed Tomography: Implications for Transcatheter Interventions.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the agreement between three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for assessing mitral annular (MA) dimensions. A total of 105 patients (79 ± 9 years old, 52% male) who underwent clinically indicated 3D TEE and MDCT feasible for MA geometrical assessment were included. Using dedicated semi-automated postprocessing software, MA geometry, including mitral annular area (MAA), perimeter, septal-lateral (SL) diameter, and inter-trigonal (TT) diameter, was evaluated using 3D TEE and MDCT. Compared to 3D TEE, MAA, perimeter, and SL distance measured on MDCT data were larger (9.9 ± 3.0 vs. 9.3 ± 3.1 cm2 for MAA; 115 ± 18 vs. 108 ± 18 mm for perimeter; and 35 ± 5 vs. 32 ± 5 cm for SL distance, all p < 0.001). By contrast, the TT distance was comparable between MDCT and 3D TEE (26 ± 4 vs. 26 ± 4 cm, p = 0.258). The correlations of all the MA dimensions were good to excellent between the two modalities (R = 0.911 for MAA, 0.890 for perimeter, 0.739 for TT distance, and 0.857 for SL distance, respectively, all p < 0.001). This study showed good agreement between 3D TEE- and MDCT-derived MA measurements although MDCT systematically provided larger MAA, perimeter, and SL distance compared with 3D TEE.

Insufficient Mitral Leaflet Remodeling in Relation to Annular Dilation and Risk of Residual Mitral Regurgitation After MitraClip Implantation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the mitral valve (MV) total leaflet area (TLA)-to-mitral annular area (MAA) (TLA/MAA) ratio measured using 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was associated with residual mitral regurgitation (MR) after MitraClip implantation in patients with secondary MR. BACKGROUND: The factors influencing the results of MitraClip implantation for secondary MR are controversial. This study hypothesized that insufficient remodeling of the mitral leaflets relative to the annular dilation may be associated with significant MR after MitraClip implantation. METHODS: This study included patients with secondary MR treated with MitraClips. Using 3D TEE dataset, the TLA in diastole and MAA in systole were measured with dedicated software. RESULTS: In a total cohort of 119 patients (mean age 74 ± 9 years; 61% male), significant residual MR (≥2+) was present in 43 patients (36%). In patients with significant residual MR, MAA was greater than in patients without residual MR (10.7 ± 2.4 cm2 vs. 9.0 ± 2.1 cm2; p < 0.001) whereas no significant difference was observed in TLA (12.2 ± 2.6 cm2 vs. 12.0 ± 2.9 cm2; p = 0.836). TLA/MAA ratio was lower in patients with significant residual MR as compared to their counterparts (1.14 ± 0.15 vs. 1.34 ± 0.16; p < 0.001), suggesting insufficient leaflet remodeling relative to annular dilation. On receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the TLA/MAA ratio had better discriminative power to identify patients who will have significant residual MR compared to MAA alone (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.830 vs. 0.723; p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with secondary MR, insufficient mitral leaflet remodeling relative to the annulus dilation, as reflected by a lower TLA/MAA ratio, is associated with significant residual MR after MitraClip implantation.

Assessment of D-Shaped Annulus of Mitral Valve in Patients with Severe MR Using Semi-Automated 4-Dimensional Analysis: Implications for Transcatheter Interventions.

The development of transcatheter mitral valve replacement therapies requires accurate post-processing analysis tools to provide D-shaped mitral annulus dimensions from 3-dimensional (3D) data. The agreement between two semi-automated, software packages to process 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) data for the measurement of the mitral valve annulus dimensions was evaluated. 3DTEE data of patients with moderate-severe mitral regurgitation (MR) were postprocessed with semi-automated, vendor-independent (VI) software and vendor-specific (VS) software. Both post-processing software provided key measurements for the selection of transcatheter valve prosthesis size: annulus area, annulus circumference and the septal-to-lateral distance of the annulus. The intertrigonal distance was provided only by the VS software. The inter- and intra-observer agreements were assessed with Bland-Altman analysis. Of 105 patients (63.8 ± 11 years, 66% male) with MR, 28 had secondary MR, 45 fibroelastic deficiency, and 32 Barlow's disease. Using VS software, the dimensions for the overall population were 16.1 ± 4.6 cm2 for annulus area, for circumference 14.4 ± 1.9 cm, intertrigonal distance 3.4 ± 0.5 cm and septal-to-lateral distance 3.8 ± 0.6 cm. Similar dimensions were obtained using VI software: 15.7 ± 4.6 cm2 for annulus area, 14.5 ± 2.0 cm for circumference, and 4.1 ± 0.6 cm for septal-to-lateral distance. The inter- and intra-observer agreement for both software programs was excellent. In conclusion, current post-processing software programs for 3DTEE data of the mitral valve annulus provide good reproducibility of key measurements to select the transcatheter prosthesis size.

Prognostic Implications of Significant Isolated Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Without Left-Sided Heart Disease or Pulmonary Hypertension.

The prognostic impact of isolated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic implications of significant isolated TR in AF patients without left-sided heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, or primary structural abnormalities of the tricuspid valve. A total of 63 AF patients with moderate and severe TR were matched for age and gender to 116 AF patients without significant TR. Patients were followed for the occurrence of all-cause mortality, hospitalization for heart failure and stroke. Patients with significant isolated TR (mean age 71 ± 8 years, 57% men) more often had paroxysmal AF as compared with patients without TR (mean age 71 ± 7 years, 60% men) (60% vs 43%, p = 0.028). In addition, right atrial size and tricuspid annular diameter were significantly larger in patients with significant isolated TR compared with their counterparts. During follow-up (median 62 [34 to 95] months), 53 events for the combined endpoint occurred. One- and 5-year event-free survival rates for patients with significant isolated TR were 76% and 56%, compared with 92% and 85% for patients without significant TR, respectively (Log rank Chi-Square p <0.001). The presence of significant isolated TR was independently associated with the combined endpoint (hazard ratio, 2.853; 95% confidence interval, 1.458 to 5.584; p = 0.002). In conclusion, in the absence of left-sided heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, significant isolated TR is independently associated with worse event-free survival in patients with AF.

Imaging of the mitral valve: role of echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and cardiac computed tomography.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article reviews the role of multimodality imaging in the in evaluation of patients with mitral regurgitation referred for transcatheter interventions. RECENT FINDINGS: Transcatheter therapies for mitral regurgitation in patients with high surgical risk or contraindications for surgery are evolving rapidly. Three-dimensional imaging techniques (transesophageal echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance) are key to determine the anatomical suitability for each transcatheter therapy, to accurately quantify mitral regurgitation, and to plan and guide the procedure. Fusion imaging is being implemented in catheterization laboratories to precisely guide the procedure and to maximize safety and optimal results. Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair with the MitraClip device (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) provides the largest evidence on the safety and efficacy of this minimally invasive therapy and the importance of accurate patient selection to improve outcomes has been recently shown in two randomized trials. SUMMARY: Multimodality imaging is key in the work-up of patient with mitral regurgitation undergoing transcatheter therapies. Preprocedural imaging with three-dimensional echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance is important to evaluate the eligibility of patients for transcatheter interventions, whilst three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography provides soft-tissue information that can be overlaid onto fluoroscopy allowing more accurate guidance of transcatheter interventions.

Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation and Significant Valvular Heart Disease Referred for Electrical Cardioversion.

Valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) is defined as AF in the presence of mitral stenosis or mechanical valve prosthesis. However, there are patients with AF who have significant native valvular heart disease (VHD) others than mitral stenosis that are classified as nonvalvular AF. The characteristics and prognostic implications of these entities have not been extensively studied. Of 1,885 AF patients referred for electrical cardioversion (64 ± 13years, 71% male), 171 (9.1%) had valvular AF (any grade of mitral stenosis or mechanical/biological valve prostheses) and 1,714 patients were identified as nonvalvular AF, of whom 329 (17.5%) had significant left-sided VHD. Patients with nonvalvular AF but with significant left-sided VHD were older, more frequently women and had more co-morbidities compared with the other groups. Furthermore, nonvalvular AF patients with significant left-sided VHD showed the worst left ventricular systolic function and largest left atrial volumes. During a median follow-up of 64 months (interquartile range: 33 to 96 months), 488 patients presented with the combined endpoint of all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and ischemic stroke. Patients with nonvalvular AF and with significant left-sided VHD had more events of heart failure whereas patients with valvular AF had higher all-cause mortality events. There were no differences in ischemic stroke events. Type of AF was not associated with outcomes after correcting for echocardiographic variables. In conclusion, the frequency of AF patients with significant VHD is relatively high. The consequences of VHD and AF on cardiac structure and function are more important determinants of adverse outcome than the type of AF.