Effect of Aortic Regurgitation by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has demonstrated a high accuracy for evaluating the severity of aortic regurgitation (AR). However, scarce data exist on the impact of AR as evaluated by CMR on clinical outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of AR as determined by CMR on clinical outcomes (mortality, heart failure [HF] hospitalization) post-TAVI. A total of 448 TAVI recipients from 2 centers (mean age: 80 ± 7 years, mean STS: 5.8 ± 5.4%) who survived the periprocedural period with no pacemaker implantation were included. A newer generation transcatheter valve system was used in 213 patients (48%). The CMR examination was performed at a median of 12 (IQR: 7 to 21) days post-TAVI. After a mean follow-up of 24 ± 19 months, a total of 94 patients (21%) had died and 72 patients (16%) had at least 1 hospitalization because of decompensated HF. The aortic regurgitation fraction (RF) as determined by CMR was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio[HR]:1.06 for each increase of 10%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01 to 1.12, p = 0.03) and HF hospitalization (HR:1.15 for each increase of 10%, 95% CI:1.02 to 1.30, p = 0.02). The rate of moderate-severe CMR-AR defined as a RF ≥30% was 3%, and this was associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR: 2.63, 95% CI: 2.30 to 2.99, p <0.001) and HF hospitalization (HR: 2.96, 95% CI: 1.62 to 5.42, p ˂0.001). A stepwise increase in the risk of mortality and HF hospitalization was observed with an increase in AR severity, with a peak increase among patients with RF ≥30%. In conclusion, our results showed the clinical usefulness of evaluating AR severity by CMR post-TAVI. CMR would be particularly helpful in doubtful cases or those with discordances between echocardiography and clinical data.