Predicting device failure after percutaneous repair of functional mitral regurgitation in advanced heart failure: Implications for patient selection

Background. Morbidity and mortality in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) remains high, however, no pharmacological therapy has been proven to be effective.Aimsto study the effect of sacubitrile/valsartan and valsartan on functional mitral regurgitation in chronic heart failure.Methods.This double-blind study randomly assigned sacubitrile/valsartan or valsartan in addition to standard drug therapy for heart failure among 100 patients with heart failure with chronic FMR (secondary to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction). The primary endpoint was a change in the effective area of the regurgitation hole during the 12-month follow-up. Secondary endpoints included changes in the volume of regurgitation, the final systolic volume of the left ventricle, the final diastolic volume of the left ventricle, and the area of incomplete closure of the mitral valves.Results.The decrease in the effective area of the regurgitation hole was significantly more pronounced in the sacubitrile/valsartan group than in the valsartan group (0.070.066against0.030.058sm2; p=0.018)in the treatment efficacy analysis, which included 100patients (100%). The regurgitation volume also significantly decreased in the sacubitrile/valsartan group compared to the valsartan group (mean difference:8.4ml; 95%CI, from 13.2 until 1.9;р=0.21). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding changes in the area ofincomplete closure of the mitral valves and LV volumes, with the exception of the index of the final LV diastolic volume (p=0.07).Conclusion.Among patients with secondary FMR, sacubitril/valsartan reduced MR more than valsartan. Thus, angiotensin receptor inhibitors and neprilysin can be considered for optimal drug treatment of patients with heart failure and FMR.

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A case report of advanced heart failure refractory to pharmacological therapy who was successfully recovered by combinatory usage of cardiac resynchronizing therapy, Impella and MitraClip

European Heart Journal - Case Reports ◽

10.1093/ehjcr/ytaa418 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mitsuo Sobajima ◽

Nobuyuki Fukuda ◽

Hiroshi Ueno ◽

Koichiro Kinugawa

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Bed Rest ◽

Pharmacological Therapy ◽

Advanced Heart Failure ◽

Cardiac Resynchronization ◽

Functional Mitral Regurgitation ◽

Resynchronization Therapy ◽

Qrs Duration

Abstract Background The safety and efficacy of MitraClip for advanced heart failure (HF) patients who are inotrope-dependent or mechanically supported are unknown. Case summary The patient was a 71-year-old man diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy in 2003. He was admitted due to worsening HF in January 2019 and became dependent upon intravenous infusion of inotropes. During the 8-month hospitalization, his haemodynamics were relatively static with bed rest and continuous inotropes, but he was definitely dependent on them. Our multidisciplinary team decided to perform both cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and MitraClip under Impella support. First, Impella was inserted from left subclavian artery. After a week, CRT was implanted from right subclavian vein, and the QRS duration of electrocardiogram became remarkably narrow. MitraClip was performed 2 weeks after Impella, and functional mitral regurgitation improved from severe to mild, and Impella was removed on the same day. Inotropes could be ceased, and he was discharged 2 months after MitraClip. Discussion During inotrope-dependent status, there was a risk that HF would worsen with haemodynamic collapse when performing CRT implantation, and we firstly supported his haemodynamics by Impella. Cardiac resynchronization therapy implantation before MitraClip seemed to be crucial. In fact, the mitral valve morphology before Impella insertion had very poor coaptation of the anterior and posterior leaflets that was not optimal for MitraClip procedure. But the Impella support and correction of dyssynchrony by CRT markedly improved the coaptation of those leaflets. The combination therapy of CRT and MitraClip unloading with Impella maybe a new therapeutic option for advanced HF.

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