Outcomes Following Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement Using Dedicated Devices in Patients With Mitral Annular Calcification.

BACKGROUND

Patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) and morphologic presence of relevant mitral annular calcification (MAC) represent a challenging phenotypic subset with limited treatment options.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) using dedicated devices for the treatment of MAC patients.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with symptomatic MR receiving TMVR and with available computed tomography data from the CHOICE-MI (Choice of Optimal Transcatheter Treatment for Mitral Insufficiency) multicenter registry were stratified by the presence of none or mild mitral annular calcification (MAC) vs moderate or severe mitral annular calcification (MAC).

RESULTS

Among 279 eligible patients (median age = 76.0 years [Q1-Q3: 71.0-81.0 years], EuroSCORE II = 6.2% [Q1-Q3: 3.9%-12.1%]), 222 (79.6%) presented with MAC and 57 (20.4%) with MAC. Patients with MAC had a higher prevalence of extracardiac arteriopathy (P = 0.011) and primary MR (P < 0.001). Although the technical success rate and the extent of MR elimination did not differ, TMVR treatment in MAC patients was associated with higher rates of postprocedural bleeding complications (P = 0.02) and renal failure (P < 0.001). Functional improvement at the 1- and 2-year follow-up did not differ between groups. At the 2-year follow-up, there were no differences between patients with MAC and MAC regarding all-cause mortality (38.5% vs 37.7%; P = 0.76), cardiovascular mortality (21.3% vs 24.9%; P = 0.97), and all-cause mortality or heart failure hospitalization (52.4% vs 46.7%; P = 0.28) CONCLUSIONS: TMVR in patients with MAC is associated with higher rates of postprocedural complications but similar rates of survival, MR resolution, and functional improvement compared to MAC. Further studies are necessary to define the role of dedicated TMVR devices in this population. (Choice of Optimal Transcatheter Treatment for Mitral Insufficiency Registry [CHOICE-MI]; NCT04688190).