Prognostic impact of left ventricular global longitudinal strain in atrial mitral regurgitation

Mitral regurgitation in atrial fibrillation: Is a simple repair enough to tackle a complex problem?

BACKGROUND

Clinical and echocardiographic results of valve repair for mitral regurgitation in the setting of atrial fibrillation are poorly studied.

METHODS

Between January 2008 and December 2020, 89 patients underwent valve repair for mitral regurgitation in the setting of atrial fibrillation. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up data were collected and studied. The primary composite endpoint consisted of all-cause mortality or hospitalization for heart failure.

RESULTS

Valve repair with true-sized annuloplasty was performed in 83 (93 %) and restrictive annuloplasty in 6 (7 %) patients. Early mortality occurred in 3 (3 %) and residual mitral regurgitation in 1 (1 %) patient. During a median follow-up of 5.4 years (interquartile range 3.4-9.5), 25 patients died, 6 due to end-stage heart failure. Ten patients were hospitalized for heart failure. The estimated event-free survival rate at 10 years was 48.2 % (95 % CI 33.5 %-62.9 %). Recurrent mitral regurgitation was observed in 14 patients and most often caused by leaflet tethering. When analyzed as a time-dependent variable, recurrent regurgitation was related to the occurrence of the primary endpoint (hazard ratio 3.192, 95 % CI 1.219-8.359, p = 0.018). On exploratory sub-analyses, no recurrent regurgitation was observed after restrictive annuloplasty or in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Moreover, recurrent regurgitation was observed more often when signs of left ventricular impairment were present preoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite good initial results, recurrent regurgitation was a frequent observation after valve repair for mitral regurgitation in atrial fibrillation and had an effect on heart failure related morbidity and mortality. Refinements in the timing of surgery and surgical technique might help improve outcomes.

Chronic mild to moderate mitral regurgitation will not have an impact on left atrial strain parameters in the pediatric population

BACKGROUND

Left atrial strain (LAS) analysis represents a newer non-invasive, sensitive and specific technique for assessing left atrial (LA) function and early detection of its deformation and dysfunction. However, its applicability in mitral regurgitation (MR) in pediatric population remains unexplored, raising pertinent questions regarding its potential role in evaluating the severity and progression of the disease.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of chronic MR in children and adolescents on LA remodeling and function.

METHODS

The study included 100 participants. Patients with primary and secondary chronic MR lasting at least 5 years fit our inclusion criteria. The exclusion criteria from the study were: patients with functional mitral regurgitation due to primary cardiomyopathies, patients with artificial mitral valve, patients with MR who had previously undergone surgery due to obstructive lesions of the left heart (aortic stenosis, coarctation of the aorta), patients with significant atrial rhythm disorders (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter). The echocardiographic recordings were conducted by two different cardiologists. Outcome data was reported as mean and standard deviation (SD) or median and interquartile range (Q1-Q3).

RESULTS

The study included 100 participants, of whom 50 had MR and the remaining 50 were without MR. The average age of all participants was 15.8 ± 1.2 years, with a gender distribution of 37 males and 63 females. There was a significant difference in the values of LA volume index (LAVI), which were higher in patients with MR (p= 0.0001), S/D ratio (and parameters S and D; p= 0.001, p= 0.0001, p= 0.013), mitral annulus radius (p= 0.0001), E/A ratio (p= 0.0001), as well as septal e' (m/s), lateral e' (m/s), and average E/e' ratio, along with the values of TV peak gradient and LV global longitudinal strain (%). There was no significant difference in LA strain parameters, nor in LA stiffness index (LASI).

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed significant differences in several echocardiographic parameters in pediatric patients with MR relative to those without MR, providing insight into the multifaceted cardiac structural and functional effects of MR in this vulnerable population.

Functional Mitral Regurgitation and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Clinical Implications and Management

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is highly prevalent and associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes. The pathophysiology of HFpEF mostly relies on the development of elevated left ventricle filling pressure, diastolic dysfunction, and atrial dilatation and impairment. This dynamic process may eventually lead to the development of functional mitral regurgitation (MR), characterized by mitral annular dilatation and consequent leaflet remodeling, in the context of preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. These observations highlight the possible common pathophysiology of MR and HFpEF. However, less is known about the prevalence and the clinical value of MR in the context of HFpEF. This review aims to provide an overview of the association and interplay between functional MR and HFpEF, discuss the underlying mechanisms that are common to these diseases, and summarize potential targeted pharmacological treatments.