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Mitral Annular Disjunction: Associated Pathologies and Clinical Consequences
Jonas Verbeke1, Anthony Demolder2, Julie De Backer2
1Department of Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. jdverbek.verbeke@ugent.be.
Purpose Of Review:
To provide an overview of mitral annular disjunction (MAD) and to discuss important challenges in diagnosis and management of MAD.
Recent Findings:
MAD has regained interest in the context of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), coined as the "arrhythmic" MVP syndrome. In addition, MAD in isolation was recently suggested to be associated with severe arrhythmia and SCD. There is a lack of consensus on the definition of MAD and the imaging modality to be used for diagnosing MAD, and the therapeutic implications of MAD remain uncertain. Furthermore, the exact mechanism underlying the association of MAD with SCD remains largely unexplored.
Insights
Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) is linked to sudden cardiac death (SCD) in mitral valve prolapse (MVP) patients. Diagnosis and management of MAD present challenges, with unclear mechanisms and therapeutic implications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
Background:
- Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) is increasingly recognized for its association with sudden cardiac death (SCD).
- The "arrhythmic" mitral valve prolapse (MVP) syndrome highlights the link between MAD and SCD.
- MAD, even in isolation, is suggested to be associated with severe arrhythmias and SCD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of mitral annular disjunction (MAD).
- To discuss the significant challenges encountered in diagnosing and managing MAD.
- To explore the current understanding and future directions in MAD research.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on mitral annular disjunction (MAD).
- Analysis of diagnostic modalities for MAD, including echocardiography and cardiac MRI.
- Discussion of clinical implications and management strategies for patients with MAD.
Main Results:
- Lack of consensus exists regarding the definition of MAD.
- Uncertainty surrounds the optimal imaging modality for MAD diagnosis.
- The precise mechanisms linking MAD to SCD remain largely unexplored.
Conclusions:
- MAD is a critical consideration in patients with MVP and unexplained SCD.
- Standardized diagnostic criteria and imaging protocols for MAD are needed.
- Further research is essential to elucidate the pathophysiology and refine therapeutic approaches for MAD.
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