Post-procedural N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide predicts one-year mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

INTRODUCTION: Natriuretic peptides are ubiquitously used for diagnosis, follow-up and prognostic assessment in various heart conditions. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) correlates with aortic stenosis severity, however its significance after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is not well established. AIM: We aimed to assess the prognostic value of NT-proBNP at one year in patients undergoing TAVI. METHODS: This single-center retrospective analysis included 151 patients in whom both baseline and one-month post-procedure NT-proBNP were measured, from 206 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI between November 2008 and December 2014. The best cut-off values of both baseline and one-month post-TAVI NT-proBNP for one-year mortality were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Independent predictors of one-year mortality were assessed by Cox regression. RESULTS: The areas under the curve of baseline and post-procedural NT-proBNP for one-year mortality were 0.60 and 0.72, with the best cut-off values of 1350 and 2500 pg/ml, respectively. Atrial fibrillation, procedure-related major bleeding, baseline NT-proBNP higher than 1350 pg/ml, post-procedural NT-proBNP higher than 2500 pg/ml, higher creatinine and Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction were associated with one-year mortality. Only post-procedural NT-proBNP was independently and negatively associated with one-year survival (HR 5.9, 95% CI 1.6-21.7, p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline NT-proBNP did not predict one-year mortality; on the other hand one-month post-procedural NT-proBNP higher than 2500 pg/ml may identify a high-risk subset of patients, allowing better management, care and hypothetically outcome.

Advantages of a prospective multidisciplinary approach in transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Eight years of experience.

INTRODUCTION: Aortic stenosis is the most prevalent type of valvular disease in Europe. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the standard therapy, while transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative in patients at unacceptably high surgical risk. Assessment by a heart team is recommended by the guidelines but there is little published evidence on this subject. The purpose of this paper is to describe the experience of a multidisciplinary TAVI program that began in 2008. METHODS: The heart team prospectively assessed 473 patients using a standardized approach. A total of 214 patients were selected for TAVI and 80 for SAVR. Demographic, clinical and procedural characteristics and long-term success rates were compared between the groups. RESULTS: TAVI patients were older than the SAVR group (median 83 vs. 81 years), and had higher surgical risk scores (median EuroSCORE II 5.3 vs. 3.6% and Society of Thoracic Surgeons score 5.1 vs. 3.1%), as did the patients under medical treatment only. These scores were unable to assess multiple comorbidities. Patients' outcomes were different between the three groups (mortality with SAVR 25% vs. TAVI 37.6% vs. conservative therapy 57.6%, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The heart team program was able to select candidates appropriately for TAVI, SAVR and conservative treatment, taking into account the risk of both invasive treatments. The use of a prospective standardized heart team approach is recommended, but requires continuous monitoring to ensure effectiveness in a timely manner.