The MitraClip Procedure in Patients With Moderate Resting but Severe Exercise-Induced Mitral Regurgitation

Background. Optimal timing for percutaneous mitral regurgitation [MR] treatment using MitraClip [Abbott Vascular] remains unclear. We evaluated the outcome after MitraClip in patients with moderate resting MR, progressing to severe exercise-induced MR [MR2+] compared to patients with severe resting MR [MR3]. Methods. We retrospectively investigated 221 patients undergoing MitraClip, All-cause deaths and heart failure [HF] hospitalizations were assessed as the combined primary endpoint. Results. We identified 55 MR2+ and 166 MR3 patients. At baseline, MR3 patients showed higher STS scores [6.7 +/- 7.3 vs 4.4 +/- 5.5; P<.01], more HF hospitalizations in the 2 years prior to the procedure [51% vs 29%; P<.01], worse left ventricular ejection fraction [44.9 +/- 16.5% vs 52.5 +/- 14.3%; P<.01], larger left ventricular end-diastolic diameter [LVEDd; 57.0 +/- 9.3 mm vs 51.7 +/- 8.2 mm; P<.001], and larger left atrial volumes [118.3 +/- 55.8 mL vs 98.6 +/- 35.2 mL; P=.02]. Long-term outcome according to the combined endpoint was significantly worse in MR3 patients [P=.01]. HF hospitalizations significantly declined in both groups 2 years after MitraClip [P<.001 in MR3 patients, P=.03 in MR2+ patients]. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed LVEDd [hazard ratio, 1.035; 95% confidence interval, 1.005-1.066; P=.02] and previous HF hospitalizations [hazard ratio, 1.813; 95% confidence interval, 1.016-3.234; P=.04] as strong outcome predictors. Conclusions. Symptomatic patients with moderate resting and severe exercise-induced MR during handgrip echocardiography may represent an MR cohort at an earlier disease stage with improved treatment response following MitraClip implantation compared to individuals with severe resting MR. Larger left ventricular diameters and preprocedural HF hospitalizations were identified as independent adverse outcome predictors.