Impact of Percutaneous Edge-to-Edge Repair in Patients With Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical outcomes of patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) who underwent the MitraClip procedure compared with those with conventional FMR and sinus rhythm (SR). Methods and Results: Of 303 patients with FMR who underwent the MitraClip procedure, 40 with atrial-FMR defined as FMR with permanent atrial fibrillation and normal left ventricular (LV) function/size and 115 with sinus-FMR defined as FMR with SR and LV dysfunction were reviewed. Transthoracic and 3D transesophageal echocardiography, and the cardiac complication rate (composite of all-cause death, heart failure admission, mitral valve (MV) surgery, and redo MitraClip procedure) during the 12-month follow-up were compared between the groups. After the MitraClip procedure, reductions in the mitral annular area and its anteroposterior dimension and in the leaflet closure area were observed in both groups. MV orifice area was smaller with greater transmitral pressure gradient (P<0.05) after the procedure in atrial-FMR patients than in those with sinus-FMR. The prevalence of residual MR was similar, but significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was more prevalent in the atrial-FMR group at follow-up. Cardiac complication rate was comparable between groups (20% vs. 25%, P=0.63). Conclusions: Reduction of MR occurred in atrial-FMR probably because of the increase in leaflet coaptation area. Significant TR was more common after the MitraClip procedure in patients with atrial-FMR than with sinus-FMR. However, mid-term outcomes were comparable between patients with atrial-FMR and sinus-FMR.

Automated summary

This study aimed to clarify the clinical outcomes of patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) who underwent the MitraClip procedure compared with those with conventional FMR and sinus rhythm (SR). The reduction of MR in atrial-FMR patients was likely due to an increase in leaflet coaptation area. Significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was more common after the MitraClip procedure in patients with atrial-FMR than with sinus-FMR, but mid-term outcomes were comparable between the two groups.