Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with mitral stenosis undergoing percutaneous mitral balloon...

To investigate the effect of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction on outcome in patients with mitral stenosis undergoing percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PMBV).

We evaluated consecutive patients with mitral stenosis who underwent PMBV from November 1, 2002, through October 30, 2011, at our institution.

Of 107 total patients, 35 (32.7%) had diastolic dysfunction, defined as a preprocedural elevation in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (>15 mm Hg). The LVEDP was normal in the remaining 72 patients (≤ 15 mm Hg). Clinical factors associated with diastolic dysfunction were body mass index (32 ± 7 vs 28 ± 5; P=.004) and diabetes mellitus (29% vs 6%; P=.002), but no differences were found in severity of pulmonary hypertension or degree of improvement in mitral valve hemodynamics after PMBV between the 2 groups. Survival free of recurrent severe symptoms, repeated PMBV, or mitral valve replacement was worse in patients with elevated LVEDP vs normal LVEDP (1-year estimate, 42% vs 81%; hazard ratio, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.62-4.96).

In patients referred for treatment of symptomatic mitral stenosis, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction may contribute to elevated left atrial pressure, and its presence is associated with a greater risk of failure of PMBV to improve symptoms. These data have implications for counseling and patient selection for PMBV.