Transcheter aortic valve implantation as a method of treatment of chronic heart failure in elderly and old patients: Literature review (part 1)

Стеноз аортального клапана (АК) - самое частое приобретенное клапанное заболевание с растущей распространенностью из-за старения населения, требующее хирургического или эндоваскулярного вмешательства. Транскатетерная имплантация АК (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation, TAVI) представляет собой настоящую революцию в области интервенционной кардиологии для лечения пациентов старческого возраста или из группы высокого риска с тяжелым симптомным стенозом АК. TAVI позволяет выполнять коррекцию аортального порока наиболее тяжелой группе больных ХСН с выраженной коморбидностью, которым противопоказано выполнение открытой операции по замене АК, для прерывания порочного круга в прогрессировании ХСН, стимуляции обратного ремоделирования миокарда, облегчения симптомов, улучшения качества жизни и прогноза больных, а также в качестве «моста» к трансплантации сердца. Благодаря разработке устройств нового поколения, TAVI превратилась из сложной и опасной процедуры в эффективную и безопасную методику. Наибольший научный интерес в настоящее время представляет изучение долговечности клапана и возможности расширения показаний к выполнению TAVI у категорий пациентов с низким хирургическим риском, а также более молодого возраста. Aortic valve (AV) stenosis is the most common acquired valvular disease with an increasing prevalence due to an aging population, requiring surgical or endovascular intervention. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) represents a real revolution in the field of interventional cardiology for the treatment of elderly or high-risk patients with severe symptomatic AV stenosis. TAVI allows for the correction of aortic defect in the most severe group of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with severe comorbidity, who are contraindicated for open surgery to replace AV, in order to interrupt the vicious circle in the progression of CHF, stimulate reverse myocardial remodeling, alleviate symptoms, improve the quality of life, and prognosis of patients, and also as a «bridge» to heart transplantation. With the development of next-generation devices, TAVI has evolved from a complex and dangerous procedure to an effective and safe technique. Currently, the greatest scientific interest is the study of valve durability and the possibility of expanding the indications for performing TAVI in categories of patients with low surgical risk, as well as in younger age groups.

Prognostic implications of impaired longitudinal left ventricular systolic function assessed by tissue Doppler imaging prior to transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe aortic stenosis

Change in longitudinal left ventricular (LV) systolic function serves as an early marker of the deleterious effect of aortic stenosis (AS) and other cardiac comorbidities on cardiac function. We explored the prognostic value of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-derived longitudinal LV systolic function, defined by the peak systolic average of lateral and septal mitral annular velocities (average S’) among symptomatic patients with severe AS undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). 297 consecutive patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI at three european centers with available average S’ at preprocedural echocardiography were retrospectively included. The primary endpoint was the Kaplan Meier estimate of all-cause mortality. After a median 18 months (IQR 12–18) follow-up, 36 (12.1%) patients had died. Average S’ was associated with all-cause mortality (per 1 cm/sec decrease: HR 1.29, 95%CI 1.03–1.60, p = 0.025), the cut-off of 6.5 cm/sec being the most accurate. Patients with average S’ < 6.5 cm/sec (55.2%) presented characteristics of more advanced LV remodeling and functional impairment along with higher burden of cardiac comorbidities, and experienced higher all-cause mortality (17.6% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.007), also when adjusted for in-study outcome predictors (adj-HR: 2.69, 95%CI 1.22–5.93, p = 0.014). Results were consistent among patients with preserved ejection fraction, normal-flow AS, high-gradient AS and in those without LV hypertrophy. Longitudinal LV systolic function assessed by average S’ is independently associated with long-term all-cause mortality among TAVI patients. An average S’ below 6.5 cm/sec best defines clinically meaningful reduced longitudinal systolic function and may aid clinical risk stratification in these patients.

Physical Performance and Non-Esterified Fatty Acids in Men and Women after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)

Background: Men and women with valvular heart disease have different risk profiles for clinical endpoints. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are possibly involved in cardio-metabolic disease. However, it is unclear whether NEFA concentrations are associated with physical performance in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and whether there are sex-specific effects. Methods: To test the hypothesis that NEFA concentration is associated with sex-specific physical performance, we prospectively analysed data from one hundred adult patients undergoing TAVI. NEFA concentrations, physical performance and anthropometric parameters were measured before and 6 and 12 months after TAVI. Physical performance was determined by a six-minute walking test (6-MWT) and self-reported weekly bicycle riding time. Results: Before TAVI, NEFA concentrations were higher in patients (44 women, 56 men) compared to the normal population. Median NEFA concentrations at 6 and 12 months after TAVI were within the reference range reported in the normal population in men but not women. Men but not women presented with an increased performance in the 6-MWT over time (p = 0.026, p = 0.142, respectively). Additionally, men showed an increased ability to ride a bicycle after TAVI compared to before TAVI (p = 0.034). NEFA concentrations before TAVI correlated with the 6-MWT before TAVI in women (Spearman’s rho −0.552; p = 0.001) but not in men (Spearman’s rho −0.007; p = 0.964). No association was found between NEFA concentrations and physical performance 6 and 12 months after TAVI. Conclusions: NEFA concentrations improved into the reference range in men but not women after TAVI. Men but not women have an increased physical performance after TAVI. No association between NEFA and physical performance was observed in men and women after TAVI.