Thrombolysis is an effective and safe therapy in stuck bileaflet mitral valves in the absence of high-risk thrombi

AbstractOBJECTIVESWe sought to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of thrombolytic therapy in stuck mitral bileaflet heart valves in the absence of high-risk thrombi.BACKGROUNDCurrent recommendations for the thrombolytic treatment of stuck prosthetic mitral valves are partially based on older valve models and inclusion of patients in whom high-risk thrombi were either ignored or not sought for. The feasibility and safety of thrombolysis in bileaflet models may be affected by the predilection of thrombi to catch the leaflet hinge.METHODSWe studied 12 consecutive patients (men/women = 5/7, age 58.8 ± 14.9 years) who experienced one or more episodes of stuck bileaflet mitral valve over a 33-month period and received thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase, urokinase or tissue-type plasminogen activator. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in all patients. Patients with mobile or large (>5 mm) thrombi were excluded. Functional class at initial episode was I–II in 4 patients (33.3%) and III–IV in 8 patients (66.6%).RESULTSPatients receiving thrombolytic therapy achieved an overall 83.3% freedom from a repeat operation or major complications (95% confidence interval 51.6–97.9%). Minor bleeding occurred in three patients (25%) and allergic reaction in one (8.3%). Transient vague neurologic complaints, without subjective findings, occurred in four patients (33.3%). Three patients had one or more relapses within 5.2 ± 3.1 months from the previous episode, and readministration of thrombolytics was successful.CONCLUSIONSIn clinically stable patients with stuck bileaflet mitral valves and no high-risk thrombi, thrombolysis is highly successful and safe, both in the primary episode and in recurrence. The best thrombolytic regimen is yet to be established

747-1 Progression of Aortic Regurgitation Assessed by Doppler Echocardiography in 127 Patients: Degree of Regurgitation

To assess the progression of chronic aortic regurgitation (AR), 127 patients 169 men; 59±21 yr) with AR (59 mild, 8 mild-to-moderate, 41 moderate, 4 moderate-to-severe, 15 severe) who had ≥6 months of follow-up (6–47 months) by color Doppler and 2-D echo were studied. The degree of AR was established at entry and follow-up studies using an algorithm (semi-quantitative) that takes into account several Doppler criteria (jet area and jet height ratios, jet length, pressure half-time, reversal of flow in descending aorta) and the jet height/LV outflow tract (LVOT) height ratio (quantitative). LV volume (Simpson) and LV mass (Devereux) were calculated. A significant increase in jet/LVOT height ratio was observed in the whole population (30±17 vs. 35±20%; p<0.00001) and in the subsets of patients with mild (18±7 vs. 22.3±9%; p<0.01), moderate (40±14 vs. 44±16%; p<0.01) and severe (54±19 vs. 65±15%; p<0.05) AR. An increase in the degree of AR (semi-quantitative) during the follow-up was observed in 38 (30%) of patients: 25% with mild, 37% with mild-to-moderate, 44% with moderate and 50% with moderate-to-severe AR (p<0.006). Patients were further divided according to the rank order in the rate of progression of jet/LVOT height ratio into “progressives” (n=18; rate>5.64%/yr) and “non-progressives” (n=109). Patients with “progressive” AR had a faster rate of progression of LV end-diastolic volume, LV end-systolic volume and LV mass than “non-progressives” (p<0.025).ConclusionsAR is a progressive disease even in patients with mild insufficiency. The progression in the degree of AR is more frequent in patients with more severe disease. The rate of progression of regurgitation appears to playa role in LV overload in patients with AR

The natural history of aortic valve disease after mitral valve surgery

AbstractOBJECTIVESThe present study evaluates the long-term course of aortic valve disease and the need for aortic valve surgery in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease who underwent mitral valve surgery.BACKGROUNDLittle is known about the natural history of aortic valve disease in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery for rheumatic mitral valve disease. In addition there is no firm policy regarding the appropriate treatment of mild aortic valve disease while replacing the mitral valve.METHODSOne-hundred thirty-one patients (44 male, 87 female; mean age 61 ± 13 yr, range 35 to 89) were followed after mitral valve surgery for a mean period of 13 ± 7 years. All patients had rheumatic heart disease. Aortic valve function was assessed preoperatively by cardiac catheterization and during follow-up by transthoracic echocardiography.RESULTSAt the time of mitral valve surgery, 59 patients (45%) had mild aortic valve disease: 7 (5%) aortic stenosis (AS), 58 (44%) aortic regurgitation (AR). At the end of follow-up, 96 patients (73%) had aortic valve disease: 33 AS (mild or moderate except in two cases) and 90 AR (mild or moderate except in one case). Among patients without aortic valve disease at the time of the mitral valve surgery, only three patients developed significant aortic valve disease after 25 years of follow-up procedures. Disease progression was noted in three of the seven patients with AS (2 to severe) and in six of the fifty eight with AR (1 to severe). Fifty two (90%) with mild AR remained stable after a mean follow-up period of 16 years. In only three patients (2%) the aortic valve disease progressed significantly after 9, 17 and 22 years. In only six patients of the entire cohort (5%), aortic valve replacement was needed after a mean period of 21 years (range 15 to 33). In four of them the primary indication for the second surgery was dysfunction of the prosthetic mitral valve.CONCLUSIONSOur findings indicate that, among patients with rheumatic heart disease, a considerable number of patients have mild aortic valve disease at the time of mitral valve surgery. Yet most do not progress to severe disease, and aortic valve replacement is rarely needed after a long follow-up period. Thus, prophylactic valve replacement is not indicated in these cases

The Prognostic Value of Pulmonary Venous Flow Reversal in Patients with Significant Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation

Background: The prognostic significance of pulmonary venous (PV) flow reversal in degenerative mitral regurgitation (dMR) is not well-established. Objective: We aimed to assess whether reversed PV flow is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with significant dMR. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients referred to a tertiary center for evaluation of dMR of greater than moderate degree, who had normal sinus rhythm, had a left ventricular ejection fraction of above 60%, and did not suffer from any other major valvular disorders. The primary outcome was the combined rate of all-cause mortality, mitral intervention, or new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) at 5 years following index echocardiogram. Secondary outcomes included individual components of the primary outcome. Results: Overall, 135 patients (median age 68 (IQR, 58–74) years; 93 (68.9%) males; 89 (65.9%) with severe MR) met the inclusion criteria and were followed for 115.2 (IQR, 60.0–155.0) months. Patients with a reversed PV flow pattern (PVFP) (n = 34) more often presented with severe MR compared to those with a normal (n = 49) and non-reversed PVFP (n = 101) (RR = 2.03 and 1.59, respectively, all p p = 0.008 and 0.018, respectively). Furthermore, a reversed PVFP was independently associated with a higher risk of the primary outcome compared to normal PVFP (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.21–5.31, p = 0.011) and non-reversed PVFP (HR 2.14, 95% CI 1.12–4.10, p = 0.022). Conclusion: PV flow reversal is associated with a worse 5-year composite of mortality, mitral intervention, or AF in patients with significant dMR

Assessment of Adult Patients with Long COVID Manifestations Suspected as Cardiovascular: A Single-Center Experience

Background: Persistent symptoms affect a subset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors. Some of these may be cardiovascular (CV)-related. Objective: To assess the burden of objective CV morbidity among, and to explore the short-term course experienced by, COVID-19 patients with post-infectious symptomatology suspected as CV. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective analysis of consecutive adult patients with new-onset symptoms believed to be CV following recovery from COVID-19, who had been assessed at a dedicated ‘Cardio’-COVID clinic between June 2020 and June 2021. All participants were followed for 1 year for symptomatic course and the occurrence of new CV diagnoses and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: A total of 96 patients (median age 54 (IQR, 44–64) years, 52 (54%) females) were included in the final analysis. Initial visits occurred within a median of 142 days after the diagnosis of acute COVID. Nearly all (99%) patients experienced a symptomatic acute illness, which was graded as severe in 26 (27%) cases according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria. Long-COVID symptoms included mainly dyspnea and fatigue. While the initial work-up was mostly normal, 45% of the 11 cardiac magnetic resonance studies performed revealed pathologies. New CV diagnoses were made in nine (9%) patients and mainly included myocarditis that later resolved. An abnormal spirometry was the only variable associated with these. No MACE were recorded. Fifty-two (54%) participants felt that their symptoms improved. No association was found between CV morbidity and symptomatic course. Conclusions: In our experience, long-COVID symptoms of presumed CV origin signified actual CV disease in a minority of patients who, irrespective of the final diagnosis, faced a fair 1-year prognosis