A randomized controlled phase IIb trial of beta(1)-receptor blockade for chronic degenerative mitral regurgitation

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement to treat rheumatic mitral stenosis: a case series

Background

Rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS) is a common valvular heart disease in developing countries. We sought to evaluate the early experience of patients with RMS undergoing transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR).

Methods

In this retrospective study, a total of 5 RMS patients accepted TMVR. All patients underwent computed tomography and echocardiography before having the procedure. After the preprocedural comprehensive evaluations, the surgeons planned to use the Prizvalve (a novel balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve system which is now under the clinical registration study) for TMVR. Clinical data were collected at baseline, before discharge, and at the 30-day follow-up.

Results

The median age of the 5 RMS patients was 61 years (range 60-77 years); 60% were male, and the median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 13.3% (range 6.2-17.1%). TMVR was successful in all patients. Postoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed that 60.0% (n = 3) of the patients had no paravalvular leakage and 40.0% (n = 2) had trace paravalvular leakage. The median postoperative peak velocity decreased to 1.4 m/s (range 1.1-1.7 m/s), and the median pressure gradient decreased to 3 mmHg (range 2-3 mmHg). No deaths occurred at the 30-day follow-up, and all patients had an improvement of ≥1 on the New York Heart Association functional rating.

Conclusions

Our early experience with TMVR in RMS patients suggests that it is a safe and feasible procedure. The early results of the procedure are acceptable and provide bright prospects and directions for the precision treatment of RMS.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier (NCT02917980).

Imminent risk of LVEF decline in asymptomatic patients with primary mitral regurgitation

Background

2020 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guidelines state that the ideal time for mitral valve surgery in primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) is when the LV approaches but has not yet reached echocardiographic LV ejection fraction (EF) < 60% or LV end-systolic dimension (ESD) > 40 mm. However, it is difficult to know the imminent risk of crossing this threshold when the surgical outcome is less optimal.

Objective

Using machine learning and statistical models, we have shown that cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) LV sphericity index (SI) and LV mid circumferential strain rate (SRcirc) added to LVEF and LVESD predict LVEF < 50% after mitral valve surgery. Here we test the hypothesis that these CMR features predict LVEF < 60% in asymptomatic PMR patients at 18 months.

Methods

33 asymptomatic PMR patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation had CMR with tissue tagging at baseline and every 6 months for 18 months. Two types of models were employed to predict LVEF < 60% at 18 months: a model using CMR features at a single time point (e.g., baseline) and a model utilizing repeated measurements over time.

Results

CMR LVEF decreased below 60% in 13 patients over 18 months. LVEF varied over time with an inverse relation to mean arterial pressure and mean end-systolic wall stress. Random Forest models utilizing LV SI, LV mid SRcirc, LVESD, and LVEF at a single time point (baseline) had a predictive accuracy of 64%. LV SI, LV mid SRcirc, LVESD and LVEF at baseline, 6, and 12 months achieved a higher predictive accuracy of 79%, improved sensitivity from 57% to 85% than baseline alone and identified a threshold of CMR LVEF 63%-64% signaling LVEF < 60%.

Conclusion

The variability of LVEF due to blood pressure dependence may require a longitudinal study that incorporates LVEF, LVESD, SRcirc at multiple time points to identify the threshold at which LVEF is at risk for decline to less than 60%.

Understanding post-surgical decline in left ventricular function in primary mitral regurgitation using regression and machine learning models

Background

Class I echocardiographic guidelines in primary mitral regurgitation (PMR) risks left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% after mitral valve surgery even with pre-surgical LVEF > 60%. There are no models predicting LVEF < 50% after surgery in the complex interplay of increased preload and facilitated ejection in PMR using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Objective

Use regression and machine learning models to identify a combination of CMR LV remodeling and function parameters that predict LVEF < 50% after mitral valve surgery.

Methods

CMR with tissue tagging was performed in 51 pre-surgery PMR patients (median CMR LVEF 64%), 49 asymptomatic (median CMR LVEF 63%), and age-matched controls (median CMR LVEF 64%). To predict post-surgery LVEF < 50%, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and support vector machine (SVM) were developed and validated in pre-surgery PMR patients. Recursive feature elimination and LASSO reduced the number of features and model complexity. Data was split and tested 100 times and models were evaluated via stratified cross validation to avoid overfitting. The final RF model was tested in asymptomatic PMR patients to predict post-surgical LVEF < 50% if they had gone to mitral valve surgery.

Results

Thirteen pre-surgery PMR had LVEF < 50% after mitral valve surgery. In addition to LVEF (P = 0.005) and LVESD (P = 0.13), LV sphericity index (P = 0.047) and LV mid systolic circumferential strain rate (P = 0.024) were predictors of post-surgery LVEF < 50%. Using these four parameters, logistic regression achieved 77.92% classification accuracy while RF improved the accuracy to 86.17%. This final RF model was applied to asymptomatic PMR and predicted 14 (28.57%) out of 49 would have post-surgery LVEF < 50% if they had mitral valve surgery.

Conclusions

These preliminary findings call for a longitudinal study to determine whether LV sphericity index and circumferential strain rate, or other combination of parameters, accurately predict post-surgical LVEF in PMR.

Mitochondrial haplotype modulates genome expression and mitochondrial structure/function in cardiomyocytes following volume overload

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype regulates mitochondrial structure/function and reactive oxygen species in aortocaval fistula (ACF) in mice. Here, we unravel the mitochondrial haplotype effects on cardiomyocyte mitochondrial ultrastructure and transcriptome response to ACF in vivo. Phenotypic responses and quantitative transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and RNA sequence at 3 days were determined after sham surgery or ACF in vivo in cardiomyocytes from wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J (C57n:C57mt) and C3H/HeN (C3Hn:C3Hmt) and mitochondrial nuclear exchange mice (C57n:C3Hmt or C3Hn:C57mt). Quantitative TEM of cardiomyocyte mitochondria C3HWT hearts have more electron-dense compact mitochondrial cristae compared with C57WT. In response to ACF, mitochondrial area and cristae integrity are normal in C3HWT; however, there is mitochondrial swelling, cristae lysis, and disorganization in both C57WT and MNX hearts. Tissue analysis shows that C3HWT hearts have increased autophagy, antioxidant, and glucose fatty acid oxidation-related genes compared with C57WT. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of cardiomyocytes from ACF was dependent upon mtDNA haplotype. C57mtDNA haplotype was associated with increased inflammatory/protein synthesis pathways and downregulation of bioenergetic pathways, whereas C3HmtDNA showed upregulation of autophagy genes. In conclusion, ACF in vivo shows a protective response of C3Hmt haplotype that is in large part driven by mitochondrial nuclear genome interaction.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The results of this study support the effects of mtDNA haplotype on nuclear gene expression in cardiomyocytes. Currently, there is no acceptable therapy for volume overload due to mitral regurgitation. The findings of this study could suggest that mtDNA haplotype activates different pathways after ACF warrants further investigations on human population of heart disease from different ancestry backgrounds.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oral and intravenous metoprolol tartrate in clinically healthy horses

Cardiac drugs with defined pharmacological parameters in horses are limited. The objective of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetic properties and cardiovascular effects of intravenous and oral metoprolol tartrate (MET) in horses. In a 2-period randomized cross-over design, MET was administered IV (0.04 mg/kg) and PO (6 mg/kg) once to six healthy adult horses. Horses were monitored via continuous telemetry and non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP). Blood samples were serially collected for 72 h post-administration, and concentrations were determined by LC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetics were modeled using a 3-compartment model and non-linear least squares regression. Median (range) MET concentration was 110 (40.1-197) ng/ml collected 1 min (0.0167 h) after a bolus IV administration. Maximum concentration (C_max ) after PO administration was 2135 (1590-4170) ng/ml at 0.5 (0.25-0.5) hours. Oral bioavailability was 54% (17-100%). Median apparent volume of distribution was 0.39 (0.17-0.58) l/kg, clearance was 12.63 (11.41-18.94) ml/kg/min, and elimination half-life was 21.1 (7.46-34.36) minutes. No clinically relevant effects of IV or PO metoprolol were noted on cardiac rhythm or NIBP. Sweating was the most common side effect. The metoprolol doses used in this study achieve plasma concentrations reported to achieve ß-blockade in humans.

The current diagnosis and treatment of high-risk patients with chronic primary and secondary mitral valve regurgitation

Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is due primarily to either primary degeneration of the mitral valve with Barlow's or fibroelastic disease or is secondary to ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathies. Echocardiography is essential to assess MR etiology and severity, the remodeling of cardiac chambers and to characterize longitudinal chamber changes to determine optimal therapies. Surgery is recommended for severe primary MR if persistent symptoms are present or if left ventricle dysfunction is present with an EF <60% or a left ventricle end-systolic diameter ≥40 mm. For secondary MR, therapy of heart failure with vasodilators and diuretics improves forward cardiac output. Coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) should be considered for severe MR due to ischemia. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, the characteristics, the management and the different interventions for high risk patients with chronic primary and secondary MR.

2020 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Valvular Heart Disease: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

This executive summary of the valvular heart disease guideline provides recommendations for clinicians to diagnose and manage valvular heart disease as well as supporting documentation to encourage their use.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from January 1, 2010, to March 1, 2020, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Reports, and other selected database relevant to this guideline. Structure: Many recommendations from the earlier valvular heart disease guidelines have been updated with new evidence and provides newer options for diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease. This summary includes only the recommendations from the full guideline which focus on diagnostic work-up, the timing and choice of surgical and catheter interventions, and recommendations for medical therapy. The reader is referred to the full guideline for graphical flow charts, text, and tables with additional details about the rationale for and implementation of each recommendation, and the evidence tables detailing the data considered in developing these guidelines.

An Analysis of Myocardial Efficiency in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Mitral Regurgitation

BACKGROUND

It is difficult to determine left ventricular systolic performance in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) since left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) could be preserved until the end stages of the disease. Myocardial efficiency (MEf) describes the amount of external work (EW) done by the left ventricle per unit of oxygen consumed (mVO₂). In the present study, we aimed to investigate MEf in patients with asymptomatic severe MR using a novel echocardiographic method.

METHODS

A total of 27 patients with severe asymptomatic MR and 26 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. EW was measured using stroke volume and blood pressure, while mVO₂ was estimated using double product and left ventricular mass.

RESULTS

There were no differences between the groups with regards to EF (66% ± 5% vs. 69% ± 7%), while MEf was significantly reduced in patients with severe MR (25% ± 11% vs. 44% ± 12%, p < 0.001). This difference was maintained even after adjustment for age, gender and body surface area (adjusted x-: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.39–0.49 for controls and adjusted x-: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.19–0.29 for patients with severe MR). Further analysis showed that this reduction was due to an increase in total mVO₂ in the severe MR group. MEf of thepatients who were both on β-blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers were higher than those who were not on any drugs, but this difference was not statistically significant (32% ± 15% vs. 23% ± 9%, p = 0.41).

CONCLUSIONS

MEf was significantly lower in patients with asymptomatic severe MR and preserved EF.

Reduced Left Atrial Emptying Fraction and Chymase Activation in Pathophysiology of Primary Mitral Regurgitation

Increasing left atrial (LA) size predicts outcomes in patients with isolated mitral regurgitation (MR). Chymase is plentiful in the human heart and affects extracellular matrix remodeling. Chymase activation correlates to LA fibrosis, LA enlargement, and a decreased total LA emptying fraction in addition to having a potential intracellular role in mediating myofibrillar breakdown in LA myocytes. Because of the unreliability of the left ventricular ejection fraction in predicting outcomes in MR, LA size and the total LA emptying fraction may be more suitable indicators for timing of surgical intervention.

Dynamic Changes in the Molecular Signature of Adverse Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Compensated and Decompensated Chronic Primary Mitral Regurgitation

BACKGROUND

There is no proven medical therapy that attenuates adverse left ventricular remodeling in patients with chronic primary mitral regurgitation (CPMR). Identification of molecular pathways important in the progression of left ventricular remodeling in patients with CPMR may lead to development of new therapeutic strategies.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed baseline echocardiographic, cardiac catheterization, and serum NT-pro-BNP analysis in patients with severe CPMR awaiting mitral valve surgery and stratified the study population into compensated or decompensated CPMR. We obtained left ventricular endomyocardial biopsies (n=12) for mRNA expression analysis, and compared baseline transcript levels of 109 genes important in volume-overload left ventricular remodeling with levels in normal hearts (n=5) and between patients with compensated (n=6) versus decompensated (n=6) CPMR. Patients were then randomized to treatment with and without carvedilol and followed until the time of surgery (mean follow-up 8.3 months) when repeat endomyocardial biopsies were obtained to correlate transcriptional dynamics with indices of adverse remodeling. CPMR was associated with increased NPPA expression levels (21.6-fold, P=0.004), decreased transcripts of genes important in cell survival, and enrichment of extracellular matrix genes. Decompensated CPMR was associated with downregulation of SERCA2 (0.77-fold, P=0.009) and mitochondrial gene expression levels and upregulation of genes related to inflammation, the extracellular matrix, and apoptosis, which were refractory to carvedilol therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Transition to decompensated CPMR is associated with calcium dysregulation, increased expression of inflammatory, extracellular matrix and apoptotic genes, and downregulation of genes important in bioenergetics. These changes are not attenuated by carvedilol therapy and highlight the need for development of specific combinatorial therapies, targeting myocardial inflammation and apoptosis, together with urgent surgical or percutaneous valve interventions.

Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Severe Mitral Regurgitation

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is the most common cause of severe mitral regurgitation. It has been reported that MVP patients—candidates for mitral valve repair (MVRep)—showed an alteration in the antioxidant defense systems as well as in the L-arginine metabolic pathway. In this study, we investigate if oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are an MVP consequence or driving factors. Forty-five patients undergoing MVRep were evaluated before and 6 months post surgery and compared to 29 controls. Oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) forms of glutathione, and L-arginine metabolic pathway were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods while osteoprotegerin (OPG) through the ELISA kit and circulating endothelial microparticles (EMP) by flow cytometry. Six-month post surgery, in MVP patients, the GSSG/GSH ratio decreased while symmetric and asymmetric dimethylarginines levels remained comparable to the baseline. Conversely, OPG levels significantly increased when compared to their baseline. Finally, pre-MVRep EMP levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls and did not change post surgery. Overall, these results highlight that MVRep completely restores the increased oxidative stress levels, as evidenced in MVP patients. Conversely, no amelioration of endothelial dysfunction was evidenced after surgery. Thus, therapies aimed to restore a proper endothelial function before and after surgical repair could benefit MVP patients.

The Role of Arterial Hypertension in Mitral Valve Regurgitation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review medical literature for evidence of association between hypertension and mitral regurgitation (MR) and summarize potential favorable effects of antihypertensive drugs on MR natural history and treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hypertension and MR are common diseases affecting a large proportion of the general population. Contemporary evidence suggests that hypertension may worsen the progression and prognosis of MR through augmented mechanical stress and increased regurgitation volume. Renin-angiotensin axis inhibitors, beta-blockers, and vasodilators have been tested in order to prevent or decrease primary or secondary MR. Although antihypertensive agents may improve hemodynamic parameters and left ventricular remodeling in primary MR, there is no strong evidence of benefit on clinical outcomes. On the other hand, a beneficial effect of these drugs on secondary MR is better established. Moreover, there are no studies evaluating a possible benefit of lower blood pressure targets in MR. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to elucidate the precise role of antihypertensive therapy on treatment of MR.

Left ventricular remodelling in chronic primary mitral regurgitation: implications for medical therapy

Surgical repair or replacement of the mitral valve is currently the only recommended therapy for severe primary mitral regurgitation. The chronic elevation of wall stress caused by the resulting volume overload leads to structural remodelling of the muscular, vascular and extracellular matrix components of the myocardium. These changes are initially compensatory but in the long term have detrimental effects, which ultimately result in heart failure. Understanding the changes that occur in the myocardium due to volume overload at the molecular and cellular level may lead to medical interventions, which potentially could delay or prevent the adverse left ventricular remodelling associated with primary mitral regurgitation. The pathophysiological changes involved in left ventricular remodelling in response to chronic primary mitral regurgitation and the evidence for potential medical therapy, in particular beta-adrenergic blockers, are the focus of this review.

Is there a role for combination anti-remodelling therapy for heart failure secondary to chronic rheumatic mitral regurgitation?

Introduction:

The value of combination anti-remodelling therapy for heart failure (HF) secondary to mitral regurgitation (MR) is unknown. We studied the effect of anti-remodelling therapy on clinical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with severe chronic rheumatic mitral regurgitation (CRMR) presenting in HF.

Methods:

Thirty-one patients (29 females) at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, treated with combination therapy for HF due to CRMR and New York Heart Association functional class II–III symptoms, underwent prospective six-month follow up.

Results:

Mean age was 50.7 ± 8.5 years. No patients died or were hospitalised for HF during the study period. No worsening of clinical symptoms or functional status, or left and right ventricular echocardiographic parameters (p > 0.05) was noted. Peak left atrial systolic strain improved at six months (18.7 ± 7.7 vs 23.6 ± 8.5%, p = 0.02).

Conclusion:

This preliminary analysis suggests that combination anti-remodelling therapy may be beneficial for HF secondary to CRMR. We had no HF-related admissions or deaths, and no deterioration in echocardiographic parameters of ventricular size and function.

Impact of Beta-Blockade on Cardiac Events in Patients with Chronic Severe Nonischemic Mitral Regurgitation

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of beta-blockade on cardiac events among patients with initially asymptomatic chronic severe nonischemic mitral valve regurgitation (MR).

METHODS

Data from 52 consecutive patients in our prospective natural history study of isolated chronic severe nonischemic MR were assessed post hoc over 19 years to examine the relation of chronic beta-blockade use to subsequent cardiac events (death or indications for mitral valve surgery, MVS). At entry, all patients were free of surgical indications; 9 received beta-blockers. Cardiac event rate differences were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier log rank comparison.

RESULTS

During follow-up, cardiac events included sudden death (1), heart failure (8), atrial fibrillation (6), left ventricular dimensions at systole ≥4.5 cm (11), left ventricular ejection fraction <60% (6), right ventricular ejection fraction <35% (2), and a combination of cardiac events (7). The cardiac event risk was 4-fold higher among patients receiving beta-blockers (average annual risk = 60.6%) versus those not receiving beta-blockers (average annual risk = 15.2%; p = 0.001). These effects remained statistically significant (p = 0.005) when analysis was adjusted for other baseline covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Beta-blockade appears to confer an increased risk of sudden cardiac death or indications for MVS among patients with chronic severe nonischemic MR. Randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Matrix Metalloproteinase Polymorphisms in Patients with Floppy Mitral Valve/Mitral Valve Prolapse (FMV/MVP) and FMV/MVP Syndrome

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that collagen abnormalities of the mitral valve are present in patients with floppy mitral valve (FMV)/mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Genetic factors determining collagen synthesis and degradation have not been well defined in these patients. This study was undertaken to determine whether selective polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) or transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), with known or putative effects on collagen turnover, are more frequent in FMV/MVP.

METHODS

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in select genes related to collagen turnover, including MMP2 rs2285053, MMP2 rs243865, TGFβ1 rs1800469, and TGFβ2 rs900, were determined in 98 patients with FMV/MVP who had severe mitral regurgitation and compared to 99 controls.

RESULTS

MMP2 rs243865 was the only SNP significantly associated with FMV/MVP as compared to the control (odds ratio 2.07, 95% CI 1.23-3.50, p = 0.006). MMP2 rs228503 was the only SNP significantly associated with the FMV/MVP syndrome as compared to patients with FMV/MVP without the syndrome (odds ratio 2.41, 95% CI 1.08-5.40, p = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

The frequency of certain MMP2 polymorphisms is higher in patients with the FMV/MVP syndrome and patients with FMV/MVP without the syndrome. The data suggest that a genetic predisposition that alters collagen turnover may play a role in the pathogenesis and development of FMV/MVP.

Epidemiology of valvular heart disease in a Swedish nationwide hospital-based register study

OBJECTIVE

Transitions in the spectrum of valvular heart diseases (VHDs) in developed countries over the 20th century have been reported from clinical case series, but large, contemporary population-based studies are lacking.

METHODS

We used nationwide registers to identify all patients with a first diagnosis of VHD at Swedish hospitals between 2003 and 2010. Age-stratified and sex-stratified incidence of each VHD and adjusted comorbidity profiles were assessed.

RESULTS

In the Swedish population (n=10 164 211), the incidence of VHD was 63.9 per 100 000 person-years, with aortic stenosis (AS; 47.2%), mitral regurgitation (MR; 24.2%) and aortic regurgitation (AR; 18.0%) contributing most of the VHD diagnoses. The majority of VHDs were diagnosed in the elderly (68.9% in subjects aged ≥65 years), but pulmonary valve disease incidence peaked in newborns. Incidences of AR, AS and MR were higher in men who were also more frequently diagnosed at an earlier age. Mitral stenosis (MS) incidence was higher in women. Rheumatic fever was rare. Half of AS cases had concomitant atherosclerotic vascular disease (48.4%), whereas concomitant heart failure and atrial fibrillation were common in mitral valve disease and tricuspid regurgitation. Other common comorbidities were thoracic aortic aneurysms in AR (10.3%), autoimmune disorders in MS (24.5%) and abdominal hernias or prolapse in MR (10.7%) and TR (10.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically diagnosed VHD was primarily a disease of the elderly. Rheumatic fever was rare in Sweden, but specific VHDs showed a range of different comorbidity profiles . Pronounced sex-specific patterns were observed for AR and MS, for which the mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

Targeting the sympatho-adrenergic link in chronic rheumatic mitral regurgitation: assessing the role of oral beta-blockers

INTRODUCTION

Chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) is characterized by adverse ventricular remodeling and progressive LV dysfunction leading to heart failure (HF). Beta-blockers (BB) improve LV remodeling and prognosis in patients with HF. As chronic severe MR results in neuroendocrine activation similar to HF, it is likely that BB may also exert favorable effects in these patients. No study has assessed the role of oral BB therapy in chronic rheumatic MR.

AIMS

A total of 100 patients of chronic rheumatic MR (mean age 30±13.48 years, NYHA 2.2±0.5) were randomized to BB (Metoprolol, 37±13.5 mg, n=48) vs no BB (n=52) in addition to standard therapy.

RESULTS

Baseline BNP and echocardiographic parameters were comparable in the two groups. At 3 months, BB therapy resulted in significantly lower NYHA class (1.97 vs 2.35), BNP (141 vs 207 pg/mL), LV end-systolic (35.89 vs 51.30) and LV end-diastolic volumes (101 vs 128 mL/m(2) ), LV end-systolic stress (81.1 vs 93.3 dyn/cm(2) ), LV mass (122 vs 154 gm/m(2) ), and LV work (737.02 vs 952.82 mm Hg L/min, all P significant). Therapy with BB resulted in a -15.6%, -10.4%,-12.1%, and -7.3% reduction in LV end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions and LVESVi and LVEDVi, respectively. Following BB therapy, BNP levels, end-systolic stress, indexed LV mass, and LV work also reduced significantly by 27.3%, 15.6%, 8.7%, and 28%, respectively. The control group had no significant change. The MR grade reduced from severe to moderate in 11% of those on BB (controls: no change). At 6 months, the BB group had further improvement in all echocardiographic parameters ranging from +9.1 to -18.2%.

CONCLUSION

In this first study of BB in rheumatic MR, targeting the sympatho-adrenergic axis exerted favorable effects on NYHA class, LV volumes, LV end-systolic stress, and LV work. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of BB in rheumatic MR.

Sympathetic Activity in Patients With Secondary Symptomatic Mitral Regurgitation or End-Stage Systolic Heart Failure

OBJECTIVES

This study shows the impact of secondary mitral regurgitation (sMR) and transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) with the MitraClip system on sympathetic nerve activity (SNA).

BACKGROUND

An increase in SNA is associated with worse outcomes and limited survival in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODS

Twenty CHF-patients without relevant sMR and 30 CHF patients with symptomatic sMR were enrolled prospectively. All patients underwent standardized laboratory testing and microneurography. Sixteen patients from the sMR group underwent the MitraClip procedure; 10 patients after TMVR and 9 untreated sMR patients completed 6 months of follow-up.

RESULTS

Comparing groups according to presence of sMR, we found no differences in left ventricular dimensions, and serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and noradrenaline; sMR was associated with increased MSNA (106 ± 60 burst/min vs. 74 ± 48 burst/min, d = 0.58), an impaired sympathetic baroreflex gain (10 ± 7 burst/mm Hg vs. 5 ± 5 burst/mm Hg, d = 0.61), and a higher heart rate (90 ± 27/beats/min vs. 78 ± 12/beats/min, d = 0.58). TMVR led to improved New York Heart Association functional class (d > 0.05), reduced levels of NT-proBNP (5,251 ± 3,760 pg/ml vs. 3,710 ± 2,464 pg/ml; d = 0.58) improvement in 6-minute walk test (204 ± 33 m vs. 288 ± 45 m, d = 0.64), but unchanged levels of noradrenaline. TMVR decreased MSNA burst-frequency (130 ± 78 bursts/min vs. 74 ± 21 bursts/min; d = 0.58) and baroreflex gain (7 ± 4 burst/mm Hg vs. 4 ± 1 burst/mm Hg; d = 0.61).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with CHF, concomitant sMR is associated with increased sympathetic nerve activity, which was independent from measured levels of NT-proBNP, noradrenaline, and left ventricular dimensions. Reduction of sMR with the MitraClip procedure reduced SNA and improved baroreflex gain, in line with improvements of functional capacity.

Disruption of desmin-mitochondrial architecture in patients with regurgitant mitral valves and preserved ventricular function

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies have demonstrated improved outcomes in patients receiving early surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) rather than adhering to conventional guidelines for surgical intervention. However, studies providing a mechanistic basis for these findings are limited.

METHODS

Left ventricular (LV) myocardium from 22 patients undergoing mitral valve repair for American Heart Association class I indications was evaluated for desmin, the voltage-dependent anion channel, α-B-crystallin, and α, β-unsaturated aldehyde 4-hydroxynonenal by fluorescence microscopy. The same was evaluated in 6 normal control LV autopsy specimens. Cardiomyocyte ultrastructure was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging with tissue tagging was performed in 55 normal subjects and 22 MR patients before and 6 months after mitral valve repair.

RESULTS

LV end-diastolic volume was 1.5-fold (P < .0001) higher and LV mass-to-volume ratio was lower in MR (P = .004) hearts versus normal hearts and showed improvement 6 months after mitral valve surgery. However, LV ejection fraction decreased from 65% ± 7% to 52% ± 9% (P < .0001) and LV circumferential (P < .0001) and longitudinal strain decreased significantly below normal values (P = .002) after surgery. Hearts with MR had a 53% decrease in desmin (P < .0001) and a 2.6-fold increase in desmin aggregates (P < .0001) versus normal, along with substantial, intense perinuclear staining of α, β-unsaturated aldehyde 4-hydroxynonenal in areas of mitochondrial breakdown and clustering. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated numerous electron-dense deposits, myofibrillar loss, Z-disc abnormalities, and extensive granulofilamentous debris identified as desmin-positive by immunogold transmission electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite well-preserved preoperative LV ejection fraction, severe oxidative stress and disruption of cardiomyocyte desmin-mitochondrial sarcomeric architecture may explain postoperative LV functional decline and further supports the move toward earlier surgical intervention.

A graph theoretic approach for computing 3D+time biventricular cardiac strain from tagged MRI data

Tagged magnetic resonance imaging (tMRI) is a well-established method for evaluating regional mechanical function of the heart. Many techniques have been developed to compute 2D or 3D cardiac deformation and strain from tMRI images. In this paper, we present a new method for measuring 3D plus time biventricular myocardial strain from tMRI data. The method is composed of two parts. First, we use a Gabor filter bank to extract tag points along tag lines. Second, each tag point is classified to one of a set of indexed reference tag lines using a point classification with graph cuts (PCGC) algorithm and a motion compensation technique. 3D biventricular deformation and strain is computed at each image time frame from the classified tag points using a previously published finite difference method. The strain computation is fully automatic after myocardial contours are defined near end-diastole and end-systole. An in-vivo dataset composed of 30 human imaging studies with a range of pathologies was used for validation. Strains computed with the PCGC method with no manual corrections were compared to strains computed from both manually placed tag points and a manually-corrected unwrapped phase method. A typical cardiac imaging study with 10 short-axis slices and 6 long-axis slices required 30 min for contouring followed by 44 min of automated processing. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can reconstruct accurate 3D plus time cardiac strain maps with minimal user intervention.

APPLYING A SPATIOTEMPORAL MODEL FOR LONGITUDINAL CARDIAC IMAGING DATA

Longitudinal imaging studies have both spatial and temporal correlation among the multiple outcome measurements from a subject. Statistical methods of analysis must properly account for this autocorrelation. In this work we discuss how a linear model with a separable parametric correlation structure could be used to analyze data from such a study. The goal of this paper is to provide an easily understood description of how such a model works and discuss how it can be applied to real data. Model assumptions are discussed and the process of selecting a working correlation structure is thoroughly discussed. The steps necessitating collaboration between statistical and scientific investigators have been highlighted, as have considerations for missing data or uneven follow-up. The results from a completed longitudinal cardiac imaging study were considered for illustration purposes. The data comes from a clinical trial for medical therapy for patients with mitral regurgitation, with repeated measurements taken at sixteen locations from the left ventricle to measure disease progression. The spatiotemporal correlation model was compared to previously used summary measures to demonstrate improved power as well as increased flexibility in the use of time- and space-varying predictors.

Drug Therapy for Heart Valve Diseases

Valvular heart diseases (VHDs) are progressive. When not caused by acute comorbidities they are generally characterized by long asymptomatic phases during which hemodynamic severity may progress leading to morbidity and mortality. Treatment depends on VHD type and severity but when severe and symptomatic, usually involves mechanical intervention. Asymptomatic patients, and those who lack objective descriptors associated with high risk, are closely observed clinically with optimization of associated cardiovascular risk factors until surgical indications develop. Though often prescribed based on theory, no rigorous evidence supports pharmacological therapy in most chronic situations though drugs may be appropriate in acute valvular diseases, or as a bridge to surgery in severely decompensated patients. Herein, we examine evidence supporting drug use for chronic VHDs.

A pathway and network review on beta-adrenoceptor signaling and beta blockers in cardiac remodeling

It is well established that cardiac remodeling plays a pivotal role in the development of heart failure, a leading cause of death worldwide. Meanwhile, sympathetic hyperactivity is an important factor in inducing cardiac remodeling. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of beta-adrenoceptor signaling pathways would help to find better ways to reverse the adverse remodeling. Here, we reviewed five pathways, namely mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, Gs-AC-cAMP signaling, Ca(2+)-calcineurin-NFAT/CaMKII-HDACs signaling, PI3K signaling and beta-3 adrenergic signaling, in cardiac remodeling. Furthermore, we constructed a cardiac-remodeling-specific regulatory network including miRNA, transcription factors and target genes within the five pathways. Both experimental and clinical studies have documented beneficial effects of beta blockers in cardiac remodeling; nevertheless, different blockers show different extent of therapeutic effect. Exploration of the underlying mechanisms could help developing more effective drugs. Current evidence of treatment effect of beta blockers in remodeling was also reviewed based upon information from experimental data and clinical trials. We further discussed the mechanism of how beta blockers work and why some beta blockers are more potent than others in treating cardiac remodeling within the framework of cardiac remodeling network.

Improved Right Ventricular Performance with Increased Tricuspid Annular Excursion in Athlete's Heart

Background

Marathon runners (MTH) and patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) exhibit left ventricular (LV) overload, and LV geometric changes in these groups have been reported. In this study, right ventricular (RV) adaptation to chronic volume overload was evaluated in MTH and MR and normal controls together with interventricular septal remodeling and tricuspid annulus (TA) motion.

Methods

A total of 60 age-matched subjects (including 19 MTH, 17 isolated chronic compensated MR patients, and 24 normal subjects) underwent conventional cine and tagged cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Myocardial strain and curvature were computed on the interventricular septum and RV free wall. A dual-propagation technique was applied to construct RV volume-time curves for a single cardiac cycle. Similarly, the TA was tracked throughout the cardiac cycle to create displacement over time curve.

Results

Septal curvature was significantly lower in MTH and MR compared to controls. No significant differences in RV free-wall strain or RV ejection fraction were noted among the three groups. However, longitudinal TA excursion was significantly higher in MTH compared to controls (p = 0.0061). The peak late diastolic TA velocity in MR was significantly faster than MTH (p = 0.0031) and controls (p = 0.020).

Conclusion

Increased TA kinetics allows for improved RV performance in MTH. Septal remodeling was observed in both MR and MTH, therefore a direct relationship of septal remodeling to TA kinetics in athlete’s heart could not be elucidated in this study.

The multiple mechanistic faces of a pure volume overload: implications for therapy

: Mitral regurgitation and other conditions marked by a pure isolated volume overload (VO) of the heart result in a progressive form of eccentric left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction. As opposed to the more extensively studied pressure overload, there are no approved medical therapies because an understanding of the underlying pathological mechanisms at work in VO is lacking. Over the past 20 years, our laboratory has identified multiple key biological functions involved in the pathological remodeling in VO. Specifically, we have noted perturbed matrix homeostasis, detrimental adrenergic signaling, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species and an intense inflammatory response that implicates mast cells and their product chymase, which seems to cause extensive remodeling both inside and outside the cardiomyocyte. How these multiple pathways intersect over the course of VO and their response to various single and combined interventions are now the subject of intense investigation.

Selecting a separable parametric spatiotemporal covariance structure for longitudinal imaging data

Longitudinal imaging studies allow great insight into how the structure and function of a subject's internal anatomy changes over time. Unfortunately, the analysis of longitudinal imaging data is complicated by inherent spatial and temporal correlation: the temporal from the repeated measures and the spatial from the outcomes of interest being observed at multiple points in a patient's body. We propose the use of a linear model with a separable parametric spatiotemporal error structure for the analysis of repeated imaging data. The model makes use of spatial (exponential, spherical, and Matérn) and temporal (compound symmetric, autoregressive-1, Toeplitz, and unstructured) parametric correlation functions. A simulation study, inspired by a longitudinal cardiac imaging study on mitral regurgitation patients, compared different information criteria for selecting a particular separable parametric spatiotemporal correlation structure as well as the effects on types I and II error rates for inference on fixed effects when the specified model is incorrect. Information criteria were found to be highly accurate at choosing between separable parametric spatiotemporal correlation structures. Misspecification of the covariance structure was found to have the ability to inflate the type I error or have an overly conservative test size, which corresponded to decreased power. An example with clinical data is given illustrating how the covariance structure procedure can be performed in practice, as well as how covariance structure choice can change inferences about fixed effects.

Floppy mitral valve/mitral valve prolapse syndrome: Beta-adrenergic receptor polymorphism may contribute to the pathogenesis of symptoms

BACKGROUND

Certain patients with floppy mitral valve (FMV)/mitral valve prolapse (MVP) may have symptoms that cannot be explained on the severity of mitral valvular regurgitation (MVR) alone; hypersensitivity to adrenergic stimulation has been suggested in this group defined as the FMV/MVP syndrome.

METHODS

Ninety-eight patients (75 men, 23 women) with mitral valve surgery for FMV/MVP were studied. Of those 41 (42%) had symptoms consistent with FMV/MVP syndrome [29 men (39%), 12 women (52%)]; median age of symptom onset was 30 years (range 10-63 years) and median duration of symptoms prior to valve surgery was 16 years (range 3-50 years). Ninety-nine individuals (70 men, 29 women) without clinical evidence of any disease were used as controls. Genotyping of β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors was performed.

RESULTS

β-Adrenergic receptor genotypes (β1 and β2) were similar between control and overall FMV/MVP patients. Subgroup analysis of patients, however, demonstrated that the genotype C/C at position 1165 resulting in 389 Arg/Arg of the β1 receptor was more frequent in women compared to those without FMV/MVP syndrome and to normal control women (p<0.025). This polymorphism may be related to hypersensitivity to adrenergic stimulation as reported previously in these patients.

CONCLUSION

This study shows a large proportion of patients with FMV/MVP, predominantly women, had symptoms consistent with the FMV/MVP syndrome for many years prior to the development of significant MVR, and thus symptoms cannot be attributed to the severity of MVR alone. Further, women with FMV/MVP syndrome, symptoms at least partially may be related to β1-adrenergic receptor polymorphism, which has been shown previously to be associated with a hyperresponse to adrenergic stimulation.

Increased sarcolipin expression and adrenergic drive in humans with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and chronic isolated mitral regurgitation

BACKGROUND

There is currently no therapy proven to attenuate left ventricular (LV) dilatation and dysfunction in volume overload induced by isolated mitral regurgitation (MR). To better understand molecular signatures underlying isolated MR, we performed LV gene expression analyses and overlaid regulated genes into ingenuity pathway analysis in patients with isolated MR.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Gene arrays from LV tissue of 35 patients, taken at the time of surgical repair for isolated MR, were compared with 13 normal controls. Cine-MRI was performed in 31 patients before surgery to measure LV function and volume from serial short-axis summation. LV end-diastolic volume was 2-fold (P=0.005) higher in MR patients than in normal controls, and LV ejection fraction was 64±7% (50%-79%) in MR patients. Ingenuity pathway analysis identified significant activation of pathways involved in β-adrenergic, cAMP, and G-protein-coupled signaling, whereas there was downregulation of pathways associated with complement activation and acute phase response. SERCA2a and phospholamban protein were unchanged in MR versus control left ventricles. However, mRNA and protein levels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) regulatory protein sarcolipin, which is predominantly expressed in normal atria, were increased 12- and 6-fold, respectively. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the absence of sarcolipin in normal left ventricles and its marked upregulation in MR left ventricles.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate alterations in multiple pathways associated with β-adrenergic signaling and sarcolipin in the left ventricles of patients with isolated MR and LV ejection fraction>50%, suggesting a beneficial role for β-adrenergic blockade in isolated MR.

Effects of early, late, and long-term nonselective β-blockade on left ventricular remodeling, function, and survival in chronic organic mitral regurgitation

BACKGROUND

Mitral regurgitation (MR) produces sympathetic nervous system activation which is detrimental in other causes of heart failure. However, whether β-blockade is beneficial in MR has not been determined.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eighty-seven rats with significant organic MR were randomized to the β-blockade group (n=43) or the control group (n=44). Carvedilol was started in week 2 post MR induction and given for 23 to 35 weeks in the β-blockade group. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and at weeks 2, 6, 12, 24, 30, and 36 after MR induction. After 23 weeks of β-blockade, heart rates were significantly reduced by carvedilol (308 ± 25 versus 351 ± 31 beats per minute; P<0.001). Left ventricular end-diastolic (2.2 ± 0.7 versus 1.59 ± 0.6 mL; P<0.001), end-systolic volumes (0.72 ± 0.42 versus 0.40 ± 0.19 mL; P<0.001), and mass index (2.40 ± 0.55 versus 2.06 ± 0.62 g/kg; P<0.001) were significantly higher, and left ventricular fraction shortening (33 ± 7% versus 38 ± 7%; P<0.001) and ejection fraction (69 ± 11% versus 75 ± 7%; P<0.001) were significantly lower in the β-blockade group than in the control group. Systolic blood pressure was lower in the β-blockade group than in the control group (114 ± 10 versus 93 ± 12 mm Hg; P<0.005). Survival probability was significantly lower in the early β-blockade group than in the control group (88% versus 96%; P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Early and long-term nonselective β-blockade was associated with adverse left ventricular remodeling, systolic dysfunction, and a reduction in survival in the experimental rat model of organic MR.