Evolution of Coagulation and Platelet Activation Markers After Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair

Background/Objectives: The recommendations for antithrombotic therapy after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) are empirical, and the benefit of antiplatelet (APT) or anticoagulation therapy (ACT) remains undetermined. The study sought to investigate the degree and the timing of coagulation and platelet marker activation after TEER. Methods: This was a prospective study including 46 patients undergoing TEER. The markers of coagulation activation, namely prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) and thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT), and the markers of platelet activation, namely soluble P-Selectin and soluble CD-40 ligand (sCD40L), were measured at baseline, 24 h, 1 month, and 1 year after TEER. Results: At discharge, 20 (43%) patients received APT (single: 16, dual: 4), 24 (52%) received ACT, and 2 (4%) had both single APT and ACT. Levels of F1 + 2 and TAT significantly increased at 24 h post TEER (both p < 0.001), rapidly returning to baseline levels at 1 month. However, levels of F1 + 2 and TAT remained higher at 1 month in patients without ACT compared to patients with ACT (respectively, 303.1 vs. 148.1 pmol/L; p < 0.001 and 4.6 vs. 3.0 µg/L; p = 0.020), with a similar trend at 1 year. Levels of soluble P-selectin and sCD40L remained stable at all times after TEER (respectively, p = 0.071 and p = 0.056), regardless of the APT. Conclusions: TEER is associated with an acute activation of the coagulation system, with no increase in platelet activation markers. Hence, the use of dual APT is questionable in this population. Our results raise the hypothesis that the optimal antithrombotic therapy after TEER could be short-term ACT over APT. Further larger studies are warranted.