Percutaneous mitral valve repair using the MitraClip system in patients with anemia

Patients with anemia show a negative outcome in percutaneous coronary intervention, transcatheter aortic valve replacement and cardiac surgery. The impact of anemia on periprocedural major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and mortality in patients undergoing treatment of severe mitral regurgitation (MR) with percutaneous mitral valve repair using the MitraClip system is not known.

To assess whether percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip system is safe and effective in patients with anemia.

80 patients with severe and moderate-to-severe MR were included in this open-label observational single-center study. Anemia was prevalent in 51.3% of patients (n=41). MitraClip devices were successfully implanted in 97.6% (n=40) of patients with anemia and in 97.4% (n=38) of patients without anemia (p=0.971). Periprocedural MACCE occurred in 4.9% (n=2) of patients with anemia and 5.1% (n=2) of patients without anemia (p=0.959). Thirty-day mortality was 2.4% (n=1) in patients with anemia and 5.1% (n=2) in patients without anemia (p=0.611). Follow up of up to 12 months showed a significant improvement of NYHA class and quality of life evaluated by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire in both groups. One-year survival was 80.5% in patients with anemia and 84.6% in patients without anemia (p=0.634).

Mitral valve repair with the MitraClip system can be performed safely and efficiently in patients with anemia. Anemia does not affect clinical outcome and quality of life in patients undergoing mitral valve repair.