Relations of Augmented Systolic Annular Expansion and Leaflet/Papillary Muscle Dynamics in Late-Systolic Mitral Valve Prolapse Evaluated by Echocardiography with a Speckle Tracking Analysis.

The mechanism of systolic annular expansion in mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is not clarified. Since annular expansion is systolic outward shift of MV leaflet/chorda tissue complex at superior and outer ends, annular expansion could be related to inward (superior) shift of the complex at another inferior and inner end of the papillary muscle (PM) tip and/or systolic lengthening of the tissue complex, especially MV leaflets.MV annulus systolic expansion, PMs' systolic superior shift, and MV leaflets' systolic lengthening were evaluated by echocardiography with a speckle tracking analysis in 25 normal subjects, 25 subjects with holo-systolic MVP and 20 subjects with late-systolic MVP.PMs' superior shift, MV leaflets' lengthening, MV annular area at the onset of systole and subsequent MV annulus expansion were significantly greater in late-systolic MVP than in holo-systolic MVP (4.6 ± 1.6 versus 1.5 ± 0.7 mm/m2, 2.5 ± 1.4 versus 0.6 ± 2.0 mm/m2, 6.8 ± 2.5 versus 5.7 ± 1.0 cm2/m2 and 1.6 ± 0.8 versus 0.1 ± 0.5 cm2/m2, P < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified MV leaflets' lengthening and PMs' superior shift as independent factors associated with MV annular expansion.Conclusions: These results suggest that systolic MV annular expansion in MVP is related to abnormal MV leaflets' lengthening and PMs' superior shift.

Possible mechanism of late systolic mitral valve prolapse: systolic superior shift of leaflets secondary to annular dilatation that causes papillary muscle traction.

Progressive superior shift of the mitral valve (MV) during systole is associated with abnormal papillary muscle (PM) superior shift in late systolic MV prolapse (MVP). The causal relation of these superior shifts remains unclarified. We hypothesized that the MV superior shift is related to augmented MV superiorly pushing force by systolic left ventricular pressure due to MV annular dilatation, which can be corrected by surgical MV plasty, leading to postoperative disappearance of these superior shifts. In 35 controls, 28 patients with holosystolic MVP, and 28 patients with late systolic MVP, the MV coaptation depth from the MV annulus was measured at early and late systole by two-dimensional echocardiography. The PM tip superior shift was monitored by echocardiographic speckle tracking. MV superiorly pushing force was obtained as MV annular area × (systolic blood pressure - 10). Measurements were repeated after MV plasty in 14 patients with late systolic MVP. Compared with controls and patients with holosystolic MVP, MV and PM superior shifts and MV superiorly pushing force were greater in patients with late systolic MVP [1.3 (0.5) vs. 0.9 (0.6) vs. 3.9 (1.0) mm/m2, 1.3 (0.5) vs. 1.2 (1.0) vs. 3.3 (1.3) mm/m2, and 487 (90) vs. 606 (167) vs. 742 (177) mmHg·cm2·m-2, respectively, means (SD), P < 0.001]. MV superior shift was correlated with PM superior shift ( P < 0.001), which was further related to augmented MV superiorly pushing force ( P < 0.001). MV and PM superior shift disappeared after surgical MV plasty for late systolic MVP. These data suggest that MV annulus dilatation augmenting MV superiorly pushing force may promote secondary superior shift of the MV (equal to late systolic MVP) that causes subvalvular PM traction in patients with late systolic MVP. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Late systolic mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is associated with mitral valve (MV) and papillary muscle (PM) abnormal superior shifts during systole, but the causal relation remains unclarified. MV and PM superior shifts were correlated with augmented MV superiorly pushing force by annular dilatation and disappeared after surgical MV plasty with annulus size and MV superiorly pushing force reduction. This suggests that MV annulus dilatation may promote secondary superior shifts of the MV (late systolic MVP) that cause subvalvular PM traction.

Basal Left Ventricular Dilatation and Reduced Contraction in Patients With Mitral Valve Prolapse Can Be Secondary to Annular Dilatation: Preoperative and Postoperative Speckle-Tracking Echocardiographic Study on Left Ventricle and Mitral Valve Annulus Interaction.

BACKGROUND: Prominent mitral valve (MV) annular dilatation with only modest left ventricular (LV) dilatation in patients with MV prolapse (MVP) suggests predominant dilatation in adjacent basal LV, which may augment regional wall tension and attenuate contraction by Laplace's law. We hypothesized that MV annular dilatation in patients with MVP is associated with the basal predominance of LV dilatation and attenuated contraction, which can be altered by surgical MV plasty with annulus reduction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Echocardiography with speckle-tracking analysis to assess regional cross-sectional short-axis area and longitudinal contraction (strain) of basal, middle, and apical LV was performed in 30 controls and 130 patients with MVP. The basal value/averaged middle and apical values (B/M·A ratio) of LV cross-sectional area and strain were obtained. Patients with MVP showed significantly greater MV annular area (6.4±1.6 versus 3.7±0.6 cm2/m2), increased B/M·A LV area ratio (2.4±0.5 versus 1.8±0.2), and reduced B/M·A LV strain ratio (0.83±0.14 versus 0.96±0.09) than controls (P<0.001). Multivariable analyses identified that MV annular dilatation was independently associated with increased B/M·A LV area ratio (ß=0.60, P<0.001), which was associated with reduced B/M·A LV strain ratio (ß=-0.32, P<0.001). In 35 patients with MVP, B/M·A LV area and strain ratio significantly altered after surgical MV plasty with annulus reduction (2.5±0.5-1.8±0.3 and 0.73±0.10-0.89±0.17, P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with MVP, MV annular dilatation was associated with the basal predominance of LV dilatation and reduced contraction, which can be altered by surgical MV plasty with annulus reduction, suggesting unfavorable influence from MV annular dilatation on basal LV.

Calcific extension towards the mitral valve causes non-rheumatic mitral stenosis in degenerative aortic stenosis: real-time 3D transoesophageal echocardiography study.

OBJECTIVE: Mitral annular/leaflet calcification (MALC) is frequently observed in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis (AS). However, the impact of MALC on mitral valve function has not been established. We aimed to investigate whether MALC reduces mitral annular area and restricts leaflet opening, resulting in non-rheumatic mitral stenosis. METHODS: Real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal images of the mitral valve were acquired in 101 patients with degenerative AS and 26 control participants. The outer and inner borders of the mitral annular area (MAA) and the maximal leaflet opening angle were measured at early diastole. The mitral valve area (MVA) was calculated as the left ventricular stroke volume divided by the velocity time integral of the transmitral flow velocity. RESULTS: Although the outer MAA was significantly larger in patients with AS compared to control participants (8.2±1.3 vs 7.3±0.9 cm(2), p<0.001), the inner MAA was significantly smaller (4.5±1.1 vs 5.9±0.9 cm(2), p<0.001), resulting in an average decrease of 45% in the effective MAA. The maximal anterior and posterior leaflet opening angle was also significantly smaller in patients with AS (64±10 vs 72±8°, p<0.001, 71±12 vs 87±7°, p<0.001). Thus, MVA was significantly smaller in patients with AS (2.5±1.0 vs 3.8±0.8 cm(2), p<0.001). Twenty-four (24%) patients with AS showed MVA <1.5 cm(2). Multivariate regression analysis including parameters for mitral valve geometry revealed that a decrease in effective MAA and a reduced posterior leaflet opening angle were independent predictors for MVA. CONCLUSIONS: Calcific extension to the mitral valve in patients with AS reduced effective MAA and the leaflet opening, resulting in a significant non-rheumatic mitral stenosis in one-fourth of the patients.

Redefining diastolic dysfunction grading: combination of E/A ≤0.75 and deceleration time >140 ms and E/ε' ≥10.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to examine left atrial (LA) mechanics and the prognostic impact of patients with echocardiographic findings of E/A ratio ≤0.75, deceleration time (DcT) of mitral E-wave >140 ms, but E/ε' ≥10. BACKGROUND: Traditional diastolic dysfunction (DD) grading system could not classify every patient into a specific group. We considered the group of patients with E/A ≤0.75, DcT >140 ms, but E/ε' ≥10 (proposed new DD grade) as a new group in the DD grading system. METHODS: A total of 1,362 consecutive patients were stratified according to the new DD grading system, and the LA volumes, strain, and strain rates were measured by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking analysis. All patients were followed up to determine cardiac death and major adverse cardiac events. RESULTS: An E/A ≤0.75, DcT >140 ms, but E/ε' ≥10 was observed in 227 patients (17%). LA volumes in patients with the new DD grade were between those of the impaired relaxation group and the pseudonormal group. LA strain of the new DD grade was similar to that of the pseudonormal group, whereas LA booster function was preserved as in the impaired relaxation group. During a mean follow-up of 3.0 ± 1.1 years, 25 patients had cardiac death and 61 had major adverse cardiac events. Event-free survival for major adverse cardiac events of the new DD grade was worse than that of the impaired relaxation group but similar to that of the pseudonormal group. CONCLUSIONS: The new DD grade is frequently observed and has a prognosis similar to that of the pseudonormal group but significantly worse than that of the impaired relaxation group. However, LA booster function was maintained at the expense of LA volume enlargement. Thus, the new grade should be a distinct entity for routine DD grading.

Prognostic value of LA volumes assessed by transthoracic 3D echocardiography: comparison with 2D echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: The hypothesis of this study was that minimal left atrial volume index (LAVImin) by 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is the best predictor of future cardiovascular events. BACKGROUND: Although maximal left atrial volume index (LAVImax) by 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is a robust index for predicting prognosis, the prognostic value of LAVImin and the superiority of measurements by 3DE over 2DE have not been determined in a large group of patients. METHODS: In protocol 1, we assessed age and sex dependency of LAVIs using 2DE and 3DE in 124 normal subjects and determined their cutoff values (mean + 2 SD). In protocol 2, 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) LAVImax/LAVImin were measured in 556 patients with high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. After excluding patients with atrial fibrillation, mitral valve disease, and age <18 years, 439 subjects were followed to record major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Patients were divided into 2 groups by the cutoff criteria of LAVI in each method. RESULTS: In protocol 1, there was no significant age and sex dependency for each 2D and 3D LAVI. In protocol 2, during a mean of 2.5 years of follow-up, MACE developed in 88 patients, including 32 cardiac deaths. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed that all 4 LAVI cutoff criteria had significant predictive power of MACE. After variables were adjusted for clinical variables and left ventricular ejection fraction, all 4 methods were still independently and significantly associated with MACE, but 3D-derived LAVImin had the highest risk ratio. 3D LAVImin also had an incremental prognostic value over 3D LAVImax. CONCLUSIONS: LAVIs by both 2DE and 3DE are powerful predictors of future cardiac events. 3D LAVImin tended to have a stronger and additive prognostic value than 3D LAVImax.

Measurement of left atrial volume from transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiographic datasets using the biplane Simpson's technique.

BACKGROUND: Although left atrial volume (LAV) by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography provides prognostic information, the misalignment of the 2D cutting plane of the left atrium could make the measurements inaccurate. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that LAV measurement from three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic data sets using the biplane Simpson's technique is a more reliable approach for measuring LAV. METHODS: The accuracy of 3D echocardiographic LAV measurements was retrospectively determined in 20 patients using multidetector computed tomography as a reference. LAV indexed to body surface area (LAVI) was measured using 2D and 3D echocardiography in 200 other subjects. LAV determination by 2D echocardiography was performed using the biplane Simpson's method. A 3D determination of LAV was performed using quantitative software and the biplane Simpson's method using the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral 2D views extracted from the 3D data sets. RESULTS: Although LAV using the 3D volumetric method (mean, 98 ± 24 mL) was slightly but significantly lower than LAV on multidetector computed tomography (mean, 103 ± 23 mL), a significant correlation between the two methods (r = 0.97, P < .001) with acceptable limits of agreement was noted. The left atrial short-axis image extracted from the 3D data sets revealed an ellipsoid shape. Although a good correlation for LAVI was noted between the 2D biplane Simpson's method and the 3D volumetric method (r = 0.96, P < .001), the mean value of 2D echocardiographic LAVI was significantly greater compared with 3D echocardiographic LAVI, with a mean bias of 4.7 mL/m(2). An excellent correlation was noted between the 3D biplane Simpson's and 3D volumetric methods (r = 0.99, P < .001), with a lower bias (0.54 mL/m(2)) and limits of agreement of ±5.8 mL/m(2). The time required for LAV analysis was significantly shorter with the 2D (mean, 82 ± 7 sec) and 3D (mean, 94 ± 11 sec) biplane Simpson's methods (P < .01 vs 2D biplane Simpson's method) compared with the 3D volumetric methods (mean, 135 ± 24 sec) (P < .01 vs 2D and 3D biplane Simpson's methods). CONCLUSIONS: The 2D biplane Simpson's method overestimates LAV because of the misalignment of the 2D cutting plane, and the 3D biplane Simpson's method is a practical and more reliable way to accurately determine LAV.

Comparison of acute and chronic impact of adaptive servo-ventilation on left chamber geometry and function in patients with chronic heart failure.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine differences in the acute and chronic impact of adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) on left chamber geometry and function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: An acute ASV study was performed to measure echocardiographic parameters before and 30 min after the initiation of ASV therapy in 30 CHF patients (mean age: 69 years, 23 male). The chronic effects of ASV therapy were also evaluated in 26 of these 30 patients over a mean follow-up period of 24 weeks. Patients were divided into two groups according to the status of ASV therapy [ASV group (n= 15) and withdrawal group (n= 11)]. In the acute study, heart rate and blood pressure were significantly decreased 30 min after the ASV therapy compared with baseline. Stroke volume and cardiac output were significantly increased in conjunction with a reduction in systemic vascular resistance. Multivariate regression analysis revealed baseline E/e' to be an independent predictor for absolute increase in cardiac output. In the chronic study, a significant reduction of left ventricular (LV)/left atrial (LA) volumes and the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR), and improved LV diastolic function parameters were noted in the ASV group. These beneficial effects were not observed in the withdrawal group. CONCLUSION: The acute beneficial impact of ASV is mainly associated with the reduction of afterload resulting in an increase in stroke volume and cardiac output. In contrast, chronic ASV therapy produces LV and LA reverse remodelling resulting in an improvement in LV function and the severity of MR in patients with CHF.