[Determinants and prognosis of ischemic mitral regurgitation]

Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation: a review

Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is a frequent complication after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) associated with a worse prognosis. The pathophysiological mechanisms of IMR are not fully understood, but it is known to be a complex process in which ventricular remodelling is the main causal factor. The various imaging techniques in cardiology and echocardiography fundamentally have contributed significantly to clarify the mechanisms that cause and progressively aggravate IMR. At present, different therapeutic options, the most important of which are cardio-surgical, address this problem. Nowadays the improvement in cardiac surgery and transcatheter therapies, have shown a therapeutic advance in IMR management. IMR is a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with heart failure and depressed left ventricular (LV) systolic function. However, it remains controversial whether mitral regurgitation (MR) in these patients is a consequence of dilation and dysfunction of the LV, or whether it contributes to worsening the prognosis of the ventricular dysfunction. Given that echocardiography has a fundamental reference role in the identification, graduation of severity and evaluation of the therapeutics used in the treatment of MR, we are going to focus on it over the rest of the imaging techniques. In contrast to primary MR the benefits of mitral surgery in patients with secondary MR are uncertain. Therefore, we will comment fundamentally on the role of mitral surgery in patients with IMR, with an update of the different surgical interventions available, without forgetting to mention the other therapeutic options currently available.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention lowers the incidence of ischemic mitral regurgitation in patients with acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The impact of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) on the incidence of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between January 2000 and December 2004, 318 patients presenting with first acute STEMI were enrolled in this study. Two hundred and twelve (66.67%) patients received PCI (PCI group), and 106 age- and Killip class-matched patients received medical management (non-PCI group). The median duration of follow up was 40.46 months. Compared to the non-PCI group, the PCI group had 14.6% (9.9% vs 24.5%) fewer patients with moderate or severe IMR (P<0.001). Univariate analysis demonstrated IMR was significantly associated with advanced age, higher Killip score, and posterior myocardial infarction (MI). Moreover, IMR was strongly associated with a lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, larger left atrial dimension (LAd), and a larger LV end-systolic and LV end-diastolic volumes (LVEDV) (all P<0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed the odds of IMR in the PCI group was 0.208 times those of the non-PCI group (P<0.001). Additionally, moderate or severe IMR was independently correlated with advanced age, inferior MI, Killip class ≥3, larger LAd, and larger LVEDV (all P<0.05). Furthermore, long-term survival time was longer in the PCI group without IMR than in the non-PCI group with IMR (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

PCI for first acute STEMI was associated with lower incidence of IMR. Advanced age, inferior MI, Killip class ≥3, larger LAd and LVEDV were risk factors associated with IMR development.