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Published on: August 28, 2018
Morphological and functional characteristics of mitral annular calcification and their relationship to stroke
Darae Kim1, Chi Young Shim2, Geu-Ru Hong2
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Mitral annular calcification (MAC) characteristics, including mobility and specific echodense masses, are linked to stroke risk. A new MAC score incorporating these features predicts stroke independently of traditional risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a known risk factor for stroke.
- Understanding specific MAC features associated with stroke is crucial for risk stratification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the morphological and functional characteristics of MAC related to stroke.
- To develop a scoring system for MAC features to assess stroke risk.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 460 subjects with MAC from transthoracic echocardiography.
- Classification into stroke (Group 2) and no-stroke (Group 1) groups.
- Scoring MAC features: mobility, echodense mass with central echolucencies, and functional mitral stenosis.
Main Results:
- The MAC score was significantly higher in patients with stroke (0.50 vs. 0.23, p<0.001).
- Higher prevalence of MAC mobility, echodense mass, and functional mitral stenosis in the stroke group.
- MAC score independently associated with stroke, adding value to traditional risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Morphological and functional MAC characteristics provide incremental value for stroke risk assessment.
- A composite MAC score is independently associated with stroke.
- High-risk MAC features may serve as stroke predictors or markers for stroke risk factors.
Background:
Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is associated with risk of stroke. This study aimed to define the morphological and functional characteristics of MAC that are related to stroke.
Methods:
A total of 460 subjects with MAC from transthoracic echocardiography in a single center from 2012 to 2016 was retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were classified into two groups according to history of stroke [Group 1 (n = 366): without stroke; Group 2 (n = 94): with stroke]. Morphological and functional features of MAC on echocardiogram were scored from 0 to 3 according to MAC mobility, presence of echodense mass with central echolucencies in the periannular region suggesting caseous necrosis, and functional stenosis.
Results:
Significantly more patients in group 2 were men and had history of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation, or infective endocarditis. Although MAC thickness and extent did not differ between the two groups, group 2 showed a considerably higher MAC score than group 1 (0.50 ± 0.77 vs. 0.23 ±0.52 p<0.001) as a result of the higher prevalence of each component in group 2 [mobility (22 vs. 11%, p = 0.003), echodense mass with central areas of echolucencies suggesting caseous necrosis (23 vs. 7%, p<0.001), and functional mitral stenosis (12 vs. 7%, p = 0.042)]. On logistic regression analysis, MAC score was independently associated with stroke and showed significant incremental value to demographic factors and comorbidities in association with stroke in a consecutive manner.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, morphological and functional characteristics of MAC had incremental value in association with stroke over traditional risk factors. MAC score consisting of MAC mobility, typical echodense mass with central echolucencies suggesting caseous necrosis, and functional mitral stenosis was independently associated with stroke. MAC with high-risk features may act as a source of stroke or more potent composite surrogate markers for stroke-related risk factors.
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