Fate and long-term prognostic implications of mitral regurgitation in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve...

The management of patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is challenging. We sought to investigate the evolution and long-term prognostic impact of residual post-TAVR MR.

The severity of MR was assessed at baseline and at 30 days and six months post-TAVR. Left ventricular mass and volumes were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging at two weeks and six months post-TAVR.

The study included 970 patients (age, 80.6 ± 6.2 years; female, 53.2%; Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, 5.2 ± 4.6). Moderate-severe MR at baseline improved at 30-day post-TAVR in 60% of cases, and TAVR with the Medtronic CoreValve (OR: 0.44 [0.23-0.86]) was associated with a lower likelihood of improvement. Further MR improvement continued beyond 30 days post-TAVR especially in patients with a significant improvement of left ventricular volume and mass. Stratified by the severity of MR at 30 days post-TAVR, the 5-year cumulative incidence of the composite of cardiovascular mortality or heart failure hospitalization was 37.5%, 40.0%, and 58.2% in patients with none-mild, moderate, and severe MR, respectively (log rank p < .001; adjusted hazard ratio of severe vs. none-mild MR: 4.83 [2.49-9.38].

MR improves in a majority of patients early after TAVR, and its evolution continues thereafter in line with reverse cardiac remodeling. Residual post-TAVR severe MR is associated with adverse long-term outcome. Therefore, intervention to treat severe MR persisting after TAVR should be considered by the heart team.