This study sought to determine the incidence, clinical impact, and changes over time of mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis (LFLG-AS) undergoing ...transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Few data exist on the clinical impact and changes in severity over time of MR in patients with LFLG-AS undergoing TAVR.
A total of 308 TAVR candidates with LFLG-AS were included. Patients were categorized according to MR severity at baseline, and presence of MR improvement at 12-month follow-up. Clinical outcomes were assessed at 1 and 12 months (+ echocardiography), and yearly thereafter.
Baseline mild and moderate-to-severe MR were present in 118 (38.3%) and 115 (37.3%) patients, respectively. MR was of functional and mixed etiology in 77.2% and 22.7% of patients, respectively. A total of 131 patients (42.5%) died after a median follow-up of 2 (1 to 3) years. Baseline moderate-or-greater MR had no impact on mortality (hazard ratio HR: 1.34; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.72 to 2.48) or heart failure hospitalization (HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.49 to 2.10). At 1-year follow-up, MR improved in 44.3% of patients and remained unchanged/worsened in 55.7%. The lack of MR improvement was associated with a higher risk of all-cause and cardiac mortality (HR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.29 to 3.17; HR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.27 to 7.23, respectively), rehospitalization for cardiac causes (HR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.15), and an increased overall-mortality/heart failure rehospitalization (HR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.02). A higher baseline left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and a higher increase in left ventricular ejection fraction were found to be independent predictors of MR improvement at 1-year follow-up (odds ratio: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.51 to 0.94; and odds ratio: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67 to 0.96, respectively).
Most TAVR candidates with LFLG-AS had some degree of MR, of functional origin in most cases. MR improved in about one-half of patients, with larger left ventricular size and a higher increase in left ventricular ejection fraction post-TAVR determining MR improvement over time. The lack of MR improvement at 1 year was associated with poorer outcomes.
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Abstract Background Cardiac biomarker release signifying myocardial injury post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is common, yet its clinical impact within a large TAVR cohort receiving ...differing types of valve and procedural approaches is unknown. Objectives This study sought to determine the incidence, clinical impact, and factors associated with cardiac biomarker elevation post TAVR. Methods This multicenter study included 1,131 consecutive patients undergoing TAVR with balloon-expandable (58%) or self-expandable (42%) valves. Transfemoral and transapical (TA) approaches were selected in 73.1% and 20.3% of patients, respectively. Creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) measurements were obtained at baseline and at several time points within the initial 72 h post TAVR. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and at 6- to 12-month follow-up. Results Overall, 66% of the TAVR population demonstrated some degree of myocardial injury as determined by a rise in CK-MB levels (peak value: 1.6-fold interquartile range (IQR): 0.9 to 2.8-fold). A TA approach and major procedural complications were independently associated with higher peak of CK-MB levels (p < 0.01 for all), which translated into impaired systolic left ventricular function at 6 to 12 months post TAVR (p < 0.01). A greater rise in CK-MB levels independently associated with an increased 30-day, late (median of 21 IQR: 8 to 36 months) overall and cardiovascular mortality (p < 0.001 for all). Any increase in CK-MB levels was associated with poorer clinical outcomes, and there was a stepwise rise in late mortality according to the various degrees of CK-MB increase after TAVR (p < 0.001). Conclusions Some degree of myocardial injury was detected in two-thirds of patients post TAVR, especially in those undergoing TA-TAVR or presenting with major procedural complications. A greater rise in CK-MB levels associated with greater acute and late mortality, imparting a negative impact on left ventricular function.
In patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the number of diseased vessels may affect the efficacy of a complete revascularisation strategy.
The authors sought to evaluate the safety ...and efficacy of immediate complete revascularisation (ICR) and staged complete revascularisation (SCR) in patients presenting with ACS stratified by the number of diseased vessels.
In this prespecified analysis of the BIOVASC trial, ICR was compared with SCR in patients with two-vessel disease (2VD) or three-vessel disease (3VD). The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), any unplanned ischaemia-driven revascularisation or cerebrovascular events at 1 year after the index procedure. Comparisons were performed using Cox regression.
A total of 1,525 patients were enrolled in the BIOVASC trial, of whom 1,177 presented with 2VD and 265 with 3VD. In the 2VD group, 613 patients were assigned to ICR and 564 to SCR. In the 3VD group, 117 patients were assigned to ICR and 148 to SCR. ICR and SCR led to similar results in both the 2VD (hazard ratio HR 0.76, 95% confidence interval CI: 0.50-1.13; p=0.18) and 3VD groups (HR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.39-1.59; p=0.51) (p
=0.91) in terms of the primary endpoint. ICR was associated with a lower rate of MI in patients with 3VD (HR 0.21, 95% CI: 0.046-0.93; p=0.04) (p
=0.30).
ICR might be an option in patients presenting with extensive 3VD and might be associated with a lower rate of myocardial infarction compared with SCR.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an effective treatment for patients with aortic stenosis; however, complications related to paravalvular leakage (PVL) persist, including increased risk of ...mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and rehospitalisation.
We sought to evaluate the clinical outcomes and valve performance at 1 year in patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with the ACURATE neo2 valve in a post-market clinical setting.
Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 safety events were assessed up to 1 year. Independent core laboratories evaluated echocardiographic measures of valve performance and hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT; as measured by four-dimensional computed tomography).
The study enrolled 250 patients (64% female; mean age: 81 years; baseline Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score: 2.9±2.0%); 246 patients were implanted with ACURATE neo2. All-cause mortality was 0.8% at 30 days and 5.1% at 1 year. The 1-year rates for stroke and disabling stroke were 3.0% and 1.3%, respectively. Overall, HALT of >50% leaflet involvement of at least one leaflet was present in 9% of patients at 30 days and in 12% of patients at 1 year. No association was observed between the presence of HALT and 1-year clinical or haemodynamic outcomes. Early haemodynamic improvements were maintained up to 1 year (mean aortic valve gradient: 47.6±14.5 mmHg at baseline, 7.6±3.2 mmHg at 1 year; mean aortic valve area: 0.7±0.2 cm
at baseline, 1.7±0.4 cm
at 1 year). At 1 year, 99% of patients had mild or no/trace PVL (<1% had moderate PVL; no patient had severe PVL).
The study outcomes confirm favourable performance and safety up to 1 year in patients treated with ACURATE neo2 in routine clinical practice. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04655248).