Sarano, Maurice E

Abstract Aims Concurrent mitral regurgitation (MR) influences treatment considerations in patients with severe aortic stenosis (sAS). Limited information exists regarding haemodynamic effects of sAS on MR severity and outcome of these patients. We assessed the impact of aortic valve replacement (AVR) on MR according to mechanism in patients with sAS and MR. Methods and results In patients with sAS who received surgical or transcatheter AVR from 2008 to 2017, those with effective mitral regurgitant orifice area (ERO) ≥ 10 mm2 prior to AVR were evaluated. The change in MR after AVR was considered significant when there was at least one grade difference. We compared the all-cause mortality of patients with and without improvement in MR. Of 234 patients with sAS and MR (age 80 ± 9 years, 52% male, ERO 19 ± 7 mm2), organic and functional MR were present in 166 (71%) and 68 (29%), respectively. MR improved in 136 (58%); improvement occurred with similar frequency in organic versus functional MR (59% and 57%, P = 0.88). Associated determinants were absence of atrial fibrillation in organic MR [odds ratio (OR) 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–4.37; P = 0.049] and indexed aortic valve area (iAVA) ≤ 0.40 cm2 in functional MR (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.13–9.47; P = 0.028). In the overall cohort, mitral annulus diameter < 3 cm (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.02–2.97; P = 0.041) and QRS duration < 115 ms (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.00–2.98; P = 0.049) were independently associated with improvement in MR. During median follow-up of 3.5 years, lack of improvement in MR was not associated with higher mortality in the overall cohort of patients with ERO ≥ 20 mm2 [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.71, 95% CI 0.90–3.27; P = 0.10, adjusted for age, New York Heart Association III or IV, diabetes, and creatinine ≥ 2.0 mg/dL]. Lack of improvement in organic MR was associated with higher mortality (adjusted HR 3.36, 95% CI 1.40–8.05; P < 0.01). In patients with functional MR, change in MR was not associated with mortality (HR 1.24, 95% CI 0.44–3.47; P = 0.68). Conclusions In nearly 60% of patients with sAS and MR, MR improved after AVR, even in the majority of patients with organic MR. Absence of atrial fibrillation in organic MR, iAVA ≤ 0.40 cm2 in functional MR, and mitral annulus diameter < 3 cm and QRS duration < 115 ms in the overall population were associated with MR improvement. Post-operative improvement in organic MR was associated with better survival.

Bioprostheses are prone to structural valve degeneration, resulting in limited long-term durability. A significant challenge when comparing the durability of different types of bioprostheses is the lack of a standardized terminology for the definition of a degenerated valve. This issue becomes especially important when we try to compare the degeneration rate of surgically inserted and transcatheter bioprosthetic valves. This document, by the VIVID (Valve-in-Valve International Data), proposes practical and standardized definitions of valve degeneration and provides recommendations for the timing of clinical and imaging follow-up assessments accordingly. Its goal is to improve the quality of research and clinical care for patients with deteriorated bioprostheses by providing objective and strict criteria that can be utilized in future clinical trials. We hope that the adoption of these criteria by both the cardiological and surgical communities will lead to improved comparability and interpretation of durability analyses.