Left atrium reverse remodeling in patients with mitral valve stenosis after percutaneous valvuloplasty: a 2- and 3-dimensional echocardiographic study

3D Echocardiography for Rheumatic Heart Disease Analysis: Ready for Prime Time

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains to be a very important health issue worldwide, mainly in underdeveloped countries. It continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout developing countries. RHD is a delayed non-suppurative immunologically mediated inflammatory response to the throat infection caused by a hemolytic streptococcus from the A group (Streptococcus pyogenes). RHD keeps position 1 as the most common cardiovascular disease in young people aged <25 years considering all the continents. The disease can lead to valvular cardiac lesions as well as to carditis. Rheumatic fever valvular injuries lead most commonly to the fusion and thickening of the edges of the cusps and to the fusion, thickening, and shortening of the chordae and ultimately to calcification of the valves. Valvular commissures can also be deeply compromised, leading to severe stenosis. Atrial and ventricular remodeling is also common following rheumatic infection. Mixed valvular lesions are more common than isolated valvular disorders. Echocardiography is the most relevant imaging technique not only to provide diagnostic information but also to enable prognostic data. Further, it presents a very important role for the correction of complications after surgical repair of rheumatic heart valvulopathies. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography provides additional anatomical and morphofunctional information of utmost importance for patients presenting rheumatic valvopathies. Accordingly, three-dimensional echocardiography is ready for routine use in patients with RHD presenting with valvular abnormalities.

Efficacy and safety of percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy in patients with mitral stenosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims

Percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy PMBV is an acceptable alternative to Mitral valve surgery for patients with mitral stenosis. The purpose of this study was to explore the immediate results of PMBV with respect to echocardiographic changes, outcomes, and complications, using a meta-analysis approach.

Methods

MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases were searched (01/2012 to 10/2018) for original research articles regarding the efficacy and safety of PMBV. Two reviewers independently screened references for inclusion and abstracted data including article details and echocardiographic parameters before and 24–72 h after PMBV, follow-up duration, and acute complications. Disagreements were resolved by third adjudicator. Quality of all included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale NOS.

Results

44/990 references met the inclusion criteria representing 6537 patients. Our findings suggest that PMBV leads to a significant increase in MVA (MD = 0.81 cm²; 0.76–0.87, p < 0.00001), LVEDP (MD = 1.89 mmHg; 0.52–3.26, p = 0.007), LVEDV EDV (MD = 5.81 ml; 2.65–8.97, p = 0.0003) and decrease in MPG (MD = −7.96 mmHg; −8.73 to −7.20, p < 0.00001), LAP (MD = −10.09 mmHg; −11.06 to −9.12, p < 0.00001), and SPAP (MD = −15.55 mmHg; −17.92 to −13.18, p < 0.00001). On short term basis, the pooled overall incidence estimates of repeat PMBV, mitral valve surgery, post-PMBV severe MR, and post-PMBV stroke, and systemic thromboembolism were 0.5%, 2%, 1.4%, 0.4%, and 0.7%% respectively. On long term basis, the pooled overall incidence estimates of repeat PMBV, mitral valve surgery, post-PMBV severe MR, and post-PMBV stroke, systemic thromboembolism were 5%, 11.5%, 5.5%, 2.7%, and 1.7% respectively

Conclusion

PMBV represents a successful approach for patients with mitral stenosis as evidenced by improvement in echocardiographic parameters and low rate of complications.

Left atrial structural and functional remodeling following balloon mitral valvuloplasty

Mitral stenosis (MS) is associated with left atrial (LA) functional and morphological changes as a result of chronic increase in LA pressure. Relieving the mitral obstruction via balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) might be associated with LA structural and functional remodeling. To study alterations of LA volume and functions 1 year following successful BMV in patients with isolated rheumatic severe mitral stenosis. Thirty patients (median age 33 years, 22 women) with severe rheumatic MS were included in the study. Using biplane method, trans-thoracic 2D echocardiography was used to estimate LA volume indexed to body surface area (BSA). Maximal, minimal and pre-A left atrial volumes were measured and indexed to BSA. LA volumetric functions were then assessed and the measurements were repeated 6 months and 1 year after successful valvuloplasty. At baseline, median mitral valve area (MVA) was 0.9 (0.6-1.3) cm² measured by planimetry with a mean pressure gradient of 12.5 (8-24) mmHg. Following BMV, a significant regression of left atrial volume index was noticed at 6 months compared to baseline (51 vs. 60 ml/m², p = 0.001) with a further decrease at 1 year (48 vs. 51 ml/m², p = 0.03). At 6 months, volumetric assessment of left atrial functions showed a significant improvement in LA total emptying fraction (42% vs 30%, p = 0.001) as well as in LA passive emptying fraction (26% vs 14%, p = 0.033) and LA active emptying fraction (20% vs. 18%, p = 0.016). All these indices showed further improvement at 1 year [47% (P = 0.02), 29% (p = 0.03) and 31% (p = 0.001) respectively]. In patients with isolated rheumatic MS, mitral valvuloplasty was associated with a significant decline of LA volume accompanied by a significant improvement of its volumetric functions.

Strain imaging to assess early effects of successful percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy on left atrium mechanics

Background

Global left atrial strain (LA) has been used as a novel assessment tool to evaluate left atrial function. However, not much has been investigated to study the effect of percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV) in patients with rheumatic severe mitral stenosis on global LA strain. We studied the relationship between global left atrial (LA) strain and severe mitral stenosis and the effect of BMV on LA strain.

Results

A total of 29 patients satisfying the criteria for severe mitral stenosis underwent balloon mitral valvotomy (67% females; mean age, 39.53 ± 11.78 years). Global left atrial strain was assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography before and after valvuloplasty. Global LA strain was impaired in patients with severe mitral stenosis and improved 24–48 h following BMV (13.4 ± .75% vs 17.37 ± 6.95%, p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in mitral mean gradient (MMG) (16.94 ± 6.62 mmHg vs 8.19 ± 4.01 mmHg, p < 0.001) and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) (47.84 ± 9.07 mmHg vs 36.88 ± 7.69 mmHg, p < 0.001) after BMV. Mitral valve area (MVA) (1.045 ± 0.17 cm² vs 1.94 ± 0.22 cm², p < 0.001) significantly increased after BMV. Results were compared with 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Conclusion

Global LA strain can be taken as an indicator of left atrial function, and its improvement following valvotomy may be taken as a good indicator of successful BMV.