Late kidney injury after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Prognostic value of the dynamic hepatorenal function on intermediate-term mortality in TAVI patients with survival to discharge

BACKGROUND

Renal and liver dysfunctions are risk factors for mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has the potential to break the vicious cycle between AS and hepatorenal dysfunction by relieving aortic valve obstruction.

HYPOTHESIS

A part of patients can derive hepatorenal function improvement from TAVI, and this noncardiac benefit improves the intermediate-term outcomes.

METHODS

We developed this retrospective cohort study in 439 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI and described the dynamic hepatorenal function assessed by model for end-stage liver disease model for end-stage liver disease (MELD)-XI score in subgroups. The endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Receiver-operating characteristic analysis showed that the baseline MELD-XI score of 10.71 was the cutoff point. A high MELD-XI score (>10.71) at baseline was an independent predictor of the 2-year mortality hazard ratio (HR: 2.65 [1.29-5.47], p = .008). After TAVI, patients with irreversible high MELD-XI scores had a higher risk of 2-year mortality than patients who improved from high to low MELD-XI scores (HR: 2.50 [1.06-5.91], p = .03). Factors associated with reversible MELD-XI scores improvement were low baseline MELD-XI scores (≤12.00, odds ratio [OR]: 2.02 [1.04-3.94], p = .04), high aortic valve peak velocity (≥5 m/s, OR: 2.17 [1.11-4.24], p = .02), and low body mass index (≤25 kg/m² , OR: 2.73 [1.25-5.98], p = .01).

CONCLUSION

High MELD-XI score at baseline is an independent predictor for 2-year mortality. Patients with hepatorenal function improvement after TAVI have better outcomes. For patients with irreversible hepatorenal dysfunction after TAVI, further optimization of the subsequent treatment after TAVI is needed to improve the outcomes.

Managing complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

INTRODUCTION

Although transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a streamlined and standardized procedure, different complications still remain and need the operators to be properly trained about their management.

AREAS COVERED

This review article aims at offering a practical overview of the most impactful TAVI complications, analyzing, and discussing the potential risk factors, and focusing on the available strategies for their management.

EXPERT OPINION

Complications following TAVI have been decreasing thanks to technical advancements and operators experience. The thorough knowledge of potential complications and their prevention played a key role in the decreasing of complications rates. Pre-procedural, computed tomography angiography assessment of patient's anatomical characteristics, allows to properly choose and tailor the best strategy for managing complications in most of cases. Nevertheless, further research is required to shed lights about the optimal strategies to adopt for managing TAVI complications.

Chronic kidney disease and transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an established treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Patients with aortic stenosis have a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is generally associated with an increased risk of mortality, cardiovascular events, and readmission for heart failure; this supports the concept of a cardio-renal syndrome (CRS). CRS encompasses a spectrum of disorders of the heart and kidneys, wherein dysfunction in one organ may cause dysfunction in the other. TAVI treatment is expected to break this malignant cycle of CRS and improve cardio-renal function after the procedure. However, several reports demonstrate that patients with CKD have been associated with poor outcomes after the procedure. In addition, TAVI treatments for patients with advanced CKD and those with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis are considered more challenging. Adequate management to preserve cardio-renal function in patients undergoing TAVI may reduce the risk of cardio-renal adverse events and improve the long-term prognosis. The current comprehensive review article aims to assess the prognostic impact of CKD after TAVI and seek optimal care in patients with CKD even after successful TAVI.

Albuminuria predicts worsening renal function after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

BACKGROUND

The impact of albuminuria on worsening renal function (WRF) and clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is unknown.

METHODS

Overall, 142 patients who underwent TAVR for severe aortic stenosis were divided into two groups based on the preoperative urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR): high (ACR ≥30 mg/g) and low (ACR <30 mg/g). The incidence of WRF (an absolute increase in serum creatinine level of ≥0.3 mg/dL or ≥1.5-fold from baseline or dialysis initiation) at 6 months after TAVR and the incidence of all-cause death and heart failure readmission during follow-up were investigated.

RESULTS

Half of the examined patients [n=71/142 (50.0%)] had a high ACR. Patients with a high ACR more frequently had WRF at 6 months than those with a low ACR (17.6% vs. 2.9%, p=0.004). Multivariate analysis showed a high ACR was independently associated with WRF (odds ratio, 7.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.62-37.30; p=0.01), whereas baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73m² was not (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-1.50; p=0.15). Patients with a high ACR had a higher risk of composite outcomes of all-cause death and heart failure readmission (p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative albuminuria (ACR ≥30 mg/g) was independently associated with WRF at 6 months after TAVR. Furthermore, patients with an ACR ≥30 mg/g had higher risks of all-cause death and heart failure readmission than those with an ACR <30 mg/g.