Effects of Mitral Valve Surgery on Ventricular Arrhythmia in Mitral Valve Prolapse Patients: Five-Year Eollow-up.

Aim      To evaluate the effect of mitral valve (MV) repair and replacement on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and to identify risk factors for the persistence of VA in patients with MV prolapse and severe mitral regurgitation (MR) during a mid-term follow-up.Material and methods  A single-site observational, prospective study successively enrolled 30 patients (mean age, 55.2±9.9 years, 60% men) who underwent MV repair or replacement for severe MR due to MV prolapse or chordal avulsion. Transthoracic echocardiography and Holter monitoring were performed in all patients before and annually after surgery. A pathomorphological study of MV fragments excised during surgery was performed.Results During the five-year follow-up period (144 person-years), one case of sudden cardiac death outside a health care facility was recorded. MR severity progressed in three patients after MV repair. The total number of all VAs decreased during the follow-up period, with a significant decrease in the number of paroxysms of unstable ventricular tachycardia during the first two years after surgery. The presence of VA in the postoperative period was correlated with the severity of postoperative left ventricular (LV) remodeling: end-diastolic volume (EDV) (rs=0.69; p=0.005), LV ejection fraction (EF) (rs = -0.55; p=0.004) and severity of MV myxomatous alterations according to histological study data (rτ=0.58; p=0.045). The beta-blocker treatment did not influence the VA frequency and severity (rs= -0.18; p=0.69). According to a univariate regression analysis only EDV (p = 0.001), LVEF <50% (p = 0.003), and myxomatous MV degeneration (p = 0.02) were risk factors for persistent ventricular tachycardia in the postoperative period.Conclusion      Surgical intervention on MV in patients with MV prolapse and severe MR decreased the number of cases of malignant VAs and was correlated with the postoperative changes in LV volume and function, as well as the severity of MV myxomatous alterations.

[Left ventricular systolic dysfunction in young subjects with marfanoid habitus].

BACKGROUND: In Marfan syndrome early impairment of left ventricular systolic function has been reported. Our aim was to evaluate the left ventricular systolic function in young adults with Marfanoid habitus (MH) (includes arachnodactylia, dolichostenomelia, high palate, deformations of the thorax). METHODS: We studied 137 young subjects (mean age 21.3±1.5) - 58 male, 79 female. Transthoracic echocardiography (Vivid 7 Dimension, GE) was performed in 24 asymptomatic MH with excluded Marfan syndrome and 42 healthy control subjects. Radial and circumferential systolic strain and strain rate were determined using spackle tracking (EchoPAC¼08, GE). RESULTS: Ascending aorta diameters were larger in subjects with MH. LV mass index did not differ significantly between groups, but interventricular septum and posterior wall thickness were greater in MH group. Local LV radial and circumferential systolic deformation indices were significant decreased in MH group. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults with MH in the absence of major findings of Marfan syndrome (ascending aortic aneurysm and ectopia lentis) have decreased LV systolic function.