A Novel Presentation of Eclipsed Mitral Regurgitation

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiac Surgery
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Eclipsed mitral regurgitation (MR) is a rare condition characterized by transient severe MR in patients with preserved left ventricular function.
• Recurrent heart failure exacerbations can be a clinical manifestation of underlying undiagnosed conditions like eclipsed MR.

Observation:

• The case involved a patient presenting with repeated heart failure episodes.
• Positional and transient severe MR was identified, consistent with the diagnosis of eclipsed MR.
• The patient had normal left ventricular function, a key feature of eclipsed MR.

Findings:

• The patient's symptoms and echocardiographic findings of severe MR were transient and positional.
• Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) was performed to address the severe MR.
• Successful M-TEER led to the resolution of the eclipsed MR and improvement in heart failure symptoms.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering eclipsed MR in patients with unexplained heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.
• Transcatheter mitral valve repair offers a viable therapeutic option for eclipsed MR.
• Early diagnosis and intervention can prevent recurrent heart failure exacerbations and improve patient outcomes.