The prognostic role of mitral regurgitation after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to elucidate the prognostic significance of mitral regurgitation (MR) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: MR has prognostic implications after myocardial infarction (MI). However, for STEMI patients receiving primary PCI, the influence of MR on long-term (3-5 years) outcome is unknown. METHODS: We examined 888 STEMI patients receiving primary PCI enrolled in a prospective database at a regional STEMI center, who had an echocardiogram within 72 hr following successful primary PCI. MR was graded by color Doppler as none/trace vs. mild vs. moderate/severe. Mean ± SD follow-up was 3.1 ± 1.4 years. RESULTS: For patients with none/trace (n = 469), mild (n = 325), and moderate/severe (n = 94) MR, mortality at 3 years was 8.1%, 13.6%, and 25.7% and at 5 years was 12.7%, 18.3%, and 33.5%, respectively (P < 0.0001, log-rank test). Patients with moderate/severe MR tended to be older (P < 0.0001) with lower ejection fraction (P < 0.0001) and were less likely to have had an anterior MI (P < 0.001). Independent predictors of mortality included age, creatinine, and heart rate. CONCLUSIONS: Following primary PCI for STEMI, echocardiographic detected MR in the first 72 hr following PCI stratifies mortality risk. However, when accounting for age, MR is not an independent predictor of mortality.