Tricuspid Valve Academic Research Consortium Definitions for Tricuspid Regurgitation and Trial Endpoints

C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio is associated with mortality after transcatheter tricuspid valve repair

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVr) is a treatment option for tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with high surgical risk. Given the heterogeneity in clinical benefit, there is a need for markers to assess mortality risk in patients undergoing TTVr. The C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR) is a marker of systemic inflammation and reduced nutritional status, which can both occur in TR.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing TTVr at a tertiary care center were retrospectively analyzed. Serum CRP and albumin were collected at baseline. Intraprocedural success (IS) was defined according to TVARC criteria. The primary outcome of all-cause mortality was assessed up to 2 years after TTVr.

RESULTS

A total of 215 patients (69% females, median age 80 years) were identified. IS was achieved in 61% of patients. AUC of CAR for 2-year mortality was 0.695, with an optimal threshold of 1.2945 (Youden index) dividing patients in high CAR (n = 93) and low CAR (n = 122) groups. In the high CAR group, the primary endpoint occurred more frequently (43% vs 15%, p < 0.001) and significantly higher right atrial pressure, worse renal function, and less IS during TTVr were observed. High CAR was independently associated with an increased mortality risk even when adjusted for renal and liver function, right-ventricular function, and procedural failure (HR 2.188; 95%CI 1.2-3.9; p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

Higher CAR reflects patients with advanced right-heart failure and extracardiac organ damage and is associated with mortality after TTVr. CAR is derived from readily available parameters and may be useful additive to established risk scores.

Transcatheter annuloplasty with the K-Clip system for tricuspid regurgitation: one-year results from the TriStar study

BACKGROUND

Despite the fact that morbidity and mortality rates significantly increase with tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity, limited treatment options are available for treating severe TR.

AIMS

The single-arm, multicentre, prospective Confirmatory Clinical Study of Treating Tricuspid Regurgitation With K-Clip TM Transcatheter Annuloplasty System (TriStar) evaluated the 1-year outcomes of the novel transcatheter K-Clip annuloplasty system in treating secondary TR.

METHODS

Between May 2022 and October 2022, patients with ≥severe secondary TR despite optimal medical therapy at 11 centres in China were deemed candidates for transcatheter tricuspid repair by the local Heart Team and a multidisciplinary screening committee. Echocardiographic parameters, clinical and quality-of-life measures, and major adverse events were collected at 1 year.

RESULTS

Ninety-six patients were enrolled (mean age 72.6±7.0 years, 60.4% female, mean TRI-SCORE 5.4±2.1). The technical success rate was 97.9%. At 1 year, echocardiographic follow-up showed an average reduction in the annular septolateral diameter of 11.3% (41.9 mm vs 37.1 mm; p<0.01), compared with baseline, with marked right ventricular remodelling. A total of 82.5% of patients had ≤moderate TR, and 97.7% had a ≥1 grade reduction. Patients experienced significant clinical improvements in New York Heart Association Functional Class I/II (32.6% to 96.5%; p<0.001), the 6-minute walk distance increased by 31.9±71.8 m (p<0.001), and the overall Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score increased by 7.6±17.7 points (p<0.001). Neither cardiovascular death nor reintervention were recorded at the 30-day or 1-year follow-up, while severe bleeding requiring further treatment was noted in 5 patients at 1 year. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival and freedom from heart failure rehospitalisation were 97.8% and 95.1%, respectively, at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

The 1-year experience using the K-Clip tricuspid annuloplasty system demonstrated high survival and low rehospitalisation rates with durable TR reduction and clinical benefits in functional status and quality-of-life outcomes.

Assessment of the GLIDE Score for Prediction of Mild Tricuspid Regurgitation following Tricuspid Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair

BACKGROUND

The GLIDE Score is an anatomical scoring system designed to predict moderate residual tricuspid regurgitation (TR) immediately following transcatheter tricuspid edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER).

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the GLIDE Score's predictive capability for achieving a postprocedural TR grade of mild or better.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis included 336 patients from a multicenter registry who underwent T-TEER between January 2017 and November 2022. Anatomical features were assessed using transesophageal echocardiography to calculate the GLIDE Score, which ranges from 0 to 5. The primary endpoint was a postprocedural TR grade of mild or better, assessed via periprocedural imaging. Outcomes were compared between patients with GLIDE Scores of 0 to 1 and those with scores ≥2 using logistic regression and ROC curve analysis.

RESULTS

Median age was 81 years, with no significant differences in BMI, EuroScore II, or NYHA Class across GLIDE Score cohorts. The GLIDE Score ≥2 cohort had a larger median RV basal diameter (48 mm vs 45 mm, P < 0.001) and more torrential TR cases (35.9% vs 3.1%, P < 0.001). Postprocedural mild TR was achieved in 74.7% of patients with a GLIDE Score of 0 to 1, versus 13.4% in the ≥2 cohort (P < 0.001). Ordinal regression analysis found a strong correlation between the GLIDE Score and postprocedural TR severity (coefficient = 1.41, t = 12.92), with an AUC to predict mild TR of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83-0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

The GLIDE Score is a valuable tool for predicting postprocedural TR severity in T-TEER patients, guiding patient selection and refining treatment strategies.

Mitral regurgitation evolution after transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions-a sub-analysis of the TriValve registry

AIMS

Transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions (TTVI) are increasingly used to treat patients with significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The evolution of concurrent mitral regurgitation (MR) severity after TTVI is currently unknown and may be pivotal for clinical decision-making. The aim of this study was to assess the evolution of MR after TTVI and to identify predictors of MR worsening and improvement.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This analysis is a substudy of the TriValve Registry, an international registry designed to collect data on TTVI. This substudy included all patients with echocardiographic data on MR evolution and excluded those with a concomitant tricuspid and mitral transcatheter valve intervention or with a history of mitral valve intervention. The co-primary outcomes were MR improvement and worsening at two timepoints: pre-discharge and 2-month follow-up. This analysis included 359 patients with severe TR, mostly (80%) treated with tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER). MR improvement was found in 106 (29.5%) and 99 (34%) patients, while MR worsening was observed in 34 (9.5%) and 33 (11%) patients at pre-discharge and 2-month follow-up, respectively. Annuloplasty and heterotopic replacement were associated with MR worsening. Independent predictors of MR improvement were: atrial fibrillation, T-TEER, acute procedural success, TR reduction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter> 60 mm, and beta-blocker therapy. Patients with moderate-to-severe/severe MR following TTVI showed significantly higher death rates.

CONCLUSION

MR degree variation is common after TTVI, with most cases showing improvement. Clinical and procedural characteristics may predict the MR evolution, in particular procedural success and T-TEER play key roles in MR outcomes. TTVI may be beneficial, even in the presence of functional MR.

Outcomes of Isolated Tricuspid Valve Surgery: A Society of Thoracic Surgeons Analysis and Risk Model

BACKGROUND

To provide patients and surgeons with clinically relevant information, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was queried to develop a risk model for isolated tricuspid valve (TV) operations.

METHODS

All patients in the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database who had undergone isolated TV repair or replacement (N = 13,587; age 48.3 ± 18.4 years) were identified (July 2017 to June 2023). Multivariable logistic regression accounting for TV replacement vs repair was used to model 8 operative outcomes: mortality, morbidity or mortality or both, stroke, renal failure, reoperation, prolonged ventilation, short hospital stay, and prolonged hospital stay. Model discrimination (C-statistic) and calibration were assessed using 9-fold cross-validation.

RESULTS

The isolated TV study population included 41.1% repairs (N = 5,583; age 52.6 ± 18.1 years) and 58.9% replacements (N = 8,004; age 45.3 ± 18.0 years). The overall predicted risk of operative mortality was 5.6%, and it was similar in TV repairs and replacements (5.5% and 5.7%, respectively), as was the predicted risk of composite morbidity and mortality (28.2% and 26.8%). TV replacements were generally performed in younger patients with a higher endocarditis prevalence than TV repairs (45.7% vs 21.1%). The model yielded a C-statistic of 0.81 for mortality and 0.76 for the composite of morbidity and mortality, with excellent observed-to-expected calibration that was comparable in all subcohorts and predicted risk decile groups.

CONCLUSIONS

An STS risk model has been developed for isolated TV surgery. The current mortality of isolated TV operations is lower than previously observed. This risk prediction model and these contemporary outcomes provide a new benchmark for current and future isolated TV interventions.

Performance of Transcatheter Direct Annuloplasty in Patients With Atrial and Nonatrial Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation

BACKGROUND

A novel echocardiography-based definition of atrial functional tricuspid regurgitation (A-FTR) has shown superior outcomes in patients undergoing conservative treatment or tricuspid valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. Its prognostic significance for transcatheter tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TTVA) outcomes is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to investigate prognostic, clinical, and technical implications of A-FTR phenotype in patients undergoing TTVA.

METHODS

This multicenter study investigated clinical and echocardiographic outcomes up to 1 year in 165 consecutive patients who underwent TTVA for A-FTR (characterized by the absence of tricuspid valve tenting, midventricular right ventricular [RV] dilatation, and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction) and nonatrial functional tricuspid regurgitation (NA-FTR).

RESULTS

A total of 62 A-FTR and 103 NA-FTR patients were identified, with the latter exhibiting more pronounced RV remodeling. Compared to baseline, the tricuspid regurgitation (TR) grade at discharge was significantly reduced (P < 0.001 for both subtypes), and TR ≤II was achieved more frequently in A-FTR (85.2% vs 60.8%; P = 0.001). Baseline TR grade and A-FTR phenotype were independently associated with TR ≤II at discharge and 30 days. In multivariate analyses, A-FTR phenotype was a strong predictor (OR: 5.8; 95% CI: 2.1-16.1; P < 0.001) of TR ≤II at 30 days. At 1 year, functional class had significantly improved compared to baseline (both P < 0.001). One-year mortality was lower in A-FTR (6.5% vs 23.8%; P = 0.011) without significant differences in heart failure hospitalizations (13.3% vs 22.7%; P = 0.188).

CONCLUSIONS

Direct TTVA effectively reduces TR in both A-FTR, which is a strong and independent predictor of achieving TR ≤II, and NA-FTR. Even though NA-FTR showed more RV remodeling at baseline, both phenotypes experienced similar symptomatic improvement, emphasizing the benefit of TTVA even in advanced disease stages. Additionally, phenotyping was of prognostic relevance in patients undergoing TTVA.

Surgical Treatment for Isolated Tricuspid Valve Disease: A Less Invasive Approach for Better Outcomes

Background. Severe tricuspid valve (TV) disease has a strong association with right ventricle dysfunction, heart failure and mortality. Nevertheless, surgical indications for isolated TV disease are still uncommon. The purpose of this study is to analyze outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive isolated TV surgery (ITVS). Methods. Data of patients undergoing right mini-thoracotomy ITVS were prospectively collected. A subgroup analysis was performed on late referral patients. Five-year survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier survival estimate. Results. Eighty-one consecutive patients were enrolled; late referral was recorded in 8 out of 81 (9.9%). No cases of major vascular complications nor of stroke were reported. A 30-day mortality was reported in one patient (1.2%). Five-year Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significant difference between late referral patients and the control group (p = 0.01); late referral and Euroscore II were found to be significantly associated with reduced mid-term survival (p = 0.005 and p = 0.01, respectively). Conclusions. To date, perioperative mortality in patients undergoing ITVS is still consistently high, even in high-volume, high-experienced centres, and this accounts for the low rate of referral. Results from our report show that, with proper multidisciplinary management, appropriate pre-operative screening, and allocation to the safest approach, ITVS may offer better results than expected.

Changes in right ventricular function and clinical outcomes following tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair

AIMS

Prognostic impact of post-procedural changes in right ventricular (RV) function after tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) is still unclear. We investigated association of RV function and its post-procedural changes with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing T-TEER.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively analysed 204 patients who underwent T-TEER and echocardiographic follow-up at 3 months after T-TEER. RV function was assessed by RV fractional area change (RVFAC), and RV dysfunction was defined as RVFAC <35%. Patients with an increase in RVFAC from baseline to the follow-up were considered as RV responders. Patients were divided into four groups according to baseline RVFAC and the RV responder. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure within 1 year. Forty-five of 204 patients (22.1%) had RVFAC <35% at baseline, and 71 (34.8%) were RV responders. The association between the RV responder and the composite outcome had a significant interaction with RVFAC at baseline. Among patients with baseline RVFAC <35%, RV responders had a lower risk of the composite outcome than RV non-responders, while this association was not significant in those with baseline RVFAC ≥35%. Among patients with baseline RVFAC <35%, a smaller RV diameter and a greater reduction of tricuspid regurgitation were predictors for the RV responder.

CONCLUSION

Post-procedural increase in RVFAC after T-TEER is associated with improved outcomes in patients with RV dysfunction. The factors related to the increase in RVFAC may support patient selection for T-TEER in patients with RV dysfunction.