Bioprosthetic leaflet thrombosis and reduced leaflet motion after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Leaflet thrombosis and reduced leaflet motion have become a concern with the expanding use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in lower-risk patients. AIMS: To assess the proportions, predictors and clinical impact of leaflet thrombosis and reduced leaflet motion after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of studies assessing the proportions of and/or clinical outcomes according to the presence of leaflet thrombosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement identified with computed tomography and/or echocardiography. RESULTS: Fifty-three studies, representing 25,258 patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement, were considered. The proportion of leaflet thrombosis was 5.2% overall, and was higher in computed tomography versus echocardiography (16.4% vs. 1.1%, respectively); reduced leaflet motion was identified in 11% of patients with four-dimensional computed tomography. Intra-annular bioprostheses were associated with a higher proportion of leaflet thrombosis, whereas chronic oral anticoagulation was protective for leaflet thrombosis in both computed tomography and echocardiographic studies (9.7% vs. 17.5%; relative risk [RR]: 0.51, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.37-0.71 and 0.9% vs. 2.7%; RR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.06-0.79, respectively) and for reduced leaflet motion (2.5% vs. 12.4%; RR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13-0.76). Leaflet thrombosis was not associated with an increased risk of death, but with a higher risk of stroke in computed tomography studies (2.8% vs. 2.4%; RR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.05-2.55), a difference more pronounced when considering reduced leaflet motion (3.5% vs. 1.7%; RR: 2.39, 95% CI: 0.63-8.34). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of leaflet thrombosis is highly variable according to the screening approach, the type of valve and the use of oral anticoagulation. The occurrence of cerebral events is increased when leaflet thrombosis and/or reduced leaflet motion are diagnosed, but leaflet thrombosis has no impact on survival.

Prognosis of functional mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement for pure severe aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Whether patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and significant functional mitral regurgitation (MR) should undergo isolated aortic (aortic valve replacement [AVR]) or double aortic-mitral valve procedure (DVP) remains controversial. We sought to determine outcomes of such patients undergoing surgical (surgical aortic valve replacement [SAVR]) and transcatheter AVR (TAVR) or DVP, identify echocardiographic parameters predictive of significant residual MR after isolated AVR, and determine its impact on long-term survival. METHODS: Data prospectively collected from 736 consecutive patients with severe AS and significant MR undergoing AVR or DVP were retrospectively analyzed. Exclusion of organic MR, other valve diseases and concomitant CABG yielded a final population of 74 patients with significant functional MR (32 TAVR, 23 SAVR, 19 DVP). Demographics, postoperative complications and age-adjusted survival were compared. Echocardiographic predictors of significant residual MR and its impact on survival were analyzed for patients undergoing isolated AVR. RESULTS: In the isolated AVR group, MR improvement occurred in 60% of patients and was associated with a significant increase in survival compared to persistence of significant MR (p = .03). Patients with improved MR had significantly greater preoperative left ventricular dilatation (LVEDD: 49 vs. 43 mm, p = .001; LVESD: 35 vs. 29 mm, p = .03; LVEDV: 101 vs. 71 ml, p = .0003; LVESV: 57 vs. 33 ml, p = .002). There was no significant difference in perioperative mortality (5.3 vs. 4.4 vs. 9.4%, p = .85) or age-adjusted long-term survival between isolated AVR and DVP groups (76.3 vs. 84.2% survival at 2-year follow-up, p = .26), or between SAVR, TAVR and DVP groups (78.2 vs. 75.0 vs. 84.2% survival at 2-year follow-up, p = .13). CONCLUSIONS: After isolated AVR, MR improvement occurs in 60% of patients. It is predicted by greater ventricular dimensions and associated with significantly better long-term survival. Whether a staged approach with transcatheter correction of MR should be considered in patients with significant residual MR following AVR remains undetermined.

Effect of Acute Immunosuppression on Left Ventricular Recovery and Mortality in Fulminant Viral Myocarditis: A Case Series and Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Fulminant viral myocarditis (FVM) is a rare cause of cardiogenic shock associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. An inappropriately activated immune system results in severe myocardial inflammation. Acute immunosuppressive therapy for FVM therefore gained in popularity and was described in numerous retrospective studies. METHODS: We conducted an extensive review of the literature and compared it with our single-centre retrospective review of all cases of FVM from 2009-2019 to evaluate the possible effect of acute immunosuppression with intravenous immunoglobulins and/or high dose corticosteroids in patients with FVM. RESULTS: We report on 17 patients with a mean age of 46 ± 15 years with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 15 ± 9% at admission. Fourteen (82%) of our patients had acute LVEF recovery to ≥ 45% after a mean time from immunosuppression of 74 ± 49 hours (3.1 days). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was required in 35% (6/17) of our patients for an average support of 126 ± 37 hours. Overall mortality was 12% (2/17). No patient needed a long-term left ventricular assist device or heart transplant. All surviving patients achieved complete long-term LVEF recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Our cohort of 17 severely ill patients received acute immunosuppressive therapy and showed a rapid LVEF recovery, short duration of ECMO support, and low mortality rate. Our suggested scheme of investigation and treatment is presented. These results bring more cases of successfully treated FVM with immunosuppression and ECMO to the literature, which might stimulate further prospective trials or a registry.

CONTEXTE: La myocardite virale fulminante (MVF) est une cause rare de choc cardiogénique, un état associé à des taux élevés de morbidité et de mortalité. L'activation inappropriée du système immunitaire entraîne une inflammation grave du myocarde. Le recours à un traitement immunosuppresseur aigu en cas de MVF a donc gagné en popularité et a fait l'objet de nombreuses études rétrospectives. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Nous avons effectué une revue exhaustive de la littérature et comparé nos observations avec les résultats de notre examen rétrospectif de tous les cas de MVF traités dans un même centre entre 2009 et 2019, afin d'évaluer l'effet possible d'une immunosuppression aiguë par des immunoglobulines administrées par voie intraveineuse et/ou par une corticothérapie à forte dose chez les patients présentant une MVF. RÉSULTATS: Nous rapportons les cas de 17 patients dont l'âge moyen était de 46 ± 15 ans et qui avaient une fraction d'éjection ventriculaire gauche (FEVG) moyenne de 15 ± 9 % à l'admission. Chez 14 (82 %) d'entre eux, la FEVG aiguë s'est rétablie à une valeur ≥ 45 % dans les 74 ± 49 heures (3,1 jours) en moyenne après l'administration d'un traitement immunosuppresseur. Un soutien par oxygénation extracorporelle par membrane (ECMO) a dû être administré à 35 % (6/17) des patients, pendant 126 ± 37 heures en moyenne. Le taux global de mortalité s'établissait à 12 % (2/17). Aucun patient n'a eu besoin d'assistance ventriculaire gauche de façon prolongée ni d'une transplantation cardiaque. La FEVG a fini par se rétablir complètement chez tous les patients qui ont survécu. CONCLUSIONS: Les 17 patients gravement malades de notre cohorte qui ont reçu un traitement immunosuppresseur aigu ont vu leur FEVG se rétablir rapidement, n'ont eu besoin d'ECMO que pendant une courte période et ont affiché un faible taux de mortalité. Nous présentons notre algorithme d'investigation et de traitement. Nos résultats s'ajoutent à ceux d'autres études témoignant de l'efficacité du traitement de la MVF par immunosuppression et ECMO, ce qui pourrait stimuler la réalisation de nouveaux essais prospectifs ou l'établissement d'un registre.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Who Are Denied From a Percutaneous Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair After Being Referred to a Transcatheter Mitral Valve Program: Impact of a Dedicated Multidisciplinary Mitral Heart Team Approach.

BACKGROUND: Many patients referred for a MitraClip intervention are finally refused for this intervention, and data are very scarce on their outcomes. Our study sought to determine the characteristics and outcomes of patients who are referred to a mitral valve clinic and are finally denied from a percutaneous mitral edge-to-edge repair. METHODS: A total of 210 patients referred to our clinic for severe mitral regurgitation were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-seven patients underwent a MitraClip procedure. For exploratory purposes, a propensity-matched cohort comparing the patients accepted for a MitraClip procedure and those refused for any mitral intervention was analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 153 patients who were refused for MitraClip, 46% had functional MR, 42% had degenerative MR, and 11% had mixed disease. Reasons for denial included unfavorable anatomy, patient refusal, mitral valve surgery referral, cardiac resynchronization therapy, other advanced heart failure therapies, and palliative care. After a mean follow-up of 13 months, 50% were in New York Heart Association class I or II, 63% had less than severe MR, and mortality rate was 29%. In the propensity-matched cohort, there was no difference in symptoms improvement, but there was less overall mortality (P=.01), cardiovascular mortality (P<.01) and severe MR (P<.01) in the MitraClip group. CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary heart team evaluation for complex MR patients can be useful not solely for selecting the ideal MitraClip eligible patients, but also to select the best treatment strategy in each individualized context.

Cerebrovascular events after transcatheter mitral valve interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Current guidelines support the use of transcatheter mitral valve interventions to treat some selected high-risk patients with significant mitral valvulopathy. As with any other interventional cardiac procedure, concerns have been raised about cerebrovascular event. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the incidence of cerebrovascular events following (1) transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair with mitral valve clip and (2) transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of studies reporting the cerebrovascular adverse events after transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair and TMVR procedures. The primary endpoint was the incidence of cerebrovascular events as defined by the Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium. An event that occurred within 30 days or during index hospitalisation was defined as periprocedural; otherwise it was defined as non-periprocedural. This study was designed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Aggregated study-level data were pooled using a random effect model. The quality of each study was appraised with the Hawker checklist, a method of systematically reviewing research from different paradigms. RESULTS: Sixty studies totalling 28 155 patients undergoing edge-to-edge repair with mitral valve clip were included in the analysis. Periprocedural stroke and non-periprocedural stroke rates were 0.9% (95% CI 0.6 to 1.1) and 2.4% (95% CI 1.6 to 3.2), respectively. For TMVR procedures, 26 studies including 1910 patients were analysed. The estimated periprocedural stroke incidence was 1% (95% CI 0.5 to 1.8) compared with 7% (95% CI 0.8 to 18.5) for non-periprocedural stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter mitral valve interventions are associated with low rates of cerebrovascular events. The exact mechanisms of these complications are still poorly understood given the relative paucity of good quality data. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019117257.