Tricuspid Regurgitation: From Imaging to Clinical Trials to Resolving the Unmet Need for Treatment

Safety of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Patients Referred for Tricuspid Valve Disease at a Center for Structural Heart Disease

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine safety outcomes in patients referred for transesophageal echocardiograms (TEEs) for tricuspid valve disease.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Single quaternary referral center specializing in structural heart disease.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred five patients referred for TEE for tricuspid valve disease between July 2022 and June 2023.

INTERVENTIONS

This study was not interventional, but assessed the safety of TEE.

METHODS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome was a composite of hypotension (mean arterial pressure [MAP] < 60 mmHg); use of epinephrine, norepinephrine, or calcium chloride; aborted studies due to documented clinical instability; emergent intubation; hospitalization or escalation of care post-TEE; oropharyngeal or gastrointestinal injury; or cardiac arrest. Secondary outcomes were 30-day cardiovascular mortality, all vasopressor use, and time spent per TEE. The primary outcome was noted in 32 patients (30.5%). The rate of cardiac arrest was 2.9% (3/105). Hypotension (MAP < 60 mmHg) was noted in 30 patients, with 7 patients needing hospitalization after TEE. No patients had oropharyngeal or gastrointestinal injury. There was a greater prevalence of moderate to severe right ventricular (RV) dilation (77% vs 53%; p = 0.022) and moderately to severely decreased RV function (48% vs 25%; p = 0.023) in patients who met the primary outcome. Both RV fractional area change (37.9% vs 29.8%; p = 0.003) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (1.84 cm vs 1.45 cm; p = 0.002) were lower on baseline transthoracic echocardiogram.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation had a high prevalence of adverse events when undergoing TEE. Further studies are needed to compare these outcomes with other groups undergoing diagnostic TEE and delineate what risk factors may place these patients at greater risk.

Etiology of tricuspid regurgitation and mortality: a multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

Significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) encompasses a wide range of etiologies, complicating a comprehensive understanding of disease progression and prognostic factors. This study aimed to assess mortality associated with significant TR, focusing on the role of valvular disease etiology and other predictive factors.

METHODS

This is a retrospective, multicenter, cohort observational study, including all consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe or greater TR. The patients were classified into five etiological groups: organic TR, TR secondary to left valvulopathy, TR secondary to left or right ventricular dysfunction, TR secondary to pulmonary hypertension, and atrial TR. The long-term mortality was assessed (median follow-up: 39.8 months).

RESULTS

757 patients were included. The overall mortality incidence rate was 162.5 deaths per 1000 patient-years. Compared to atrial TR, all other etiologies presented a higher mortality risk: organic TR adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 2.344 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.138-4.829), left valvulopathy-related TR aHR = 1.901 (95% CI: 1.011-3.574), ventricular dysfunction-related TR aHR = 3.683 (95% CI: 1.627-8.338), and pulmonary hypertension-related TR aHR = 2.446 (95% CI: 1.215-4.927). In addition to known factors, male sex was associated with a higher mortality risk (aHR = 1.608, 1.175-2.201), while beta-blocker use was linked to a lower risk (aHR = 0.674, 0.502-0.904).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large cohort of patients with significant TR, and after adjusting for clinical and echocardiographic variables, all etiological groups exhibited a higher mortality risk compared to atrial TR. Additionally, male patients with TR had a higher mortality risk, while beta-blocker therapy emerged as a protective factor.

Prospective Quantification of Tricuspid Regurgitation With Echocardiography vs 4D Flow Cardiac Magnetic Resonance

BACKGROUND

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a valuable tool in the assessment of valvular disease. However, its utilization in tricuspid regurgitation (TR) evaluation has been limited.

OBJECTIVES

The authors sought to compare TR grading with 4D-CMR and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

METHODS

We prospectively recruited patients with ≥ moderate TR on TTE to undergo multiparametric CMR with integrated cardiac function and 4D flow assessments using a 1.5-T scanner (Siemens Somatom Aera). Patients with other severe valvulopathy, end-stage renal disease, or pacemakers were excluded. TR was graded severe on CMR when TR volume ≥45 mL and/or TR fraction ≥50%. The weighted kappa test was used to assess the agreement in overall TR grading on TTE and CMR.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients were enrolled (mean age 78.5 ± 7.6 years, 53.8% men). The median interval between CMR and TTE was 2 days (Q1-Q3: 1-37 days). The agreement between TTE and CMR-derived TR volume was fair (kappa = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13-0.45), with only 10 of 31 patients (32%) with ≥ severe TR on TTE meeting severe TR volume criterion on CMR (TR volume ≥45 mL). There was no agreement between TTE and CMR-derived TR fraction (kappa = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.13-0.46), with only 3 of 31 patients (13%) with ≥ severe TR on TTE meeting severe TR criterion on CMR (TR fraction ≥50%).

CONCLUSIONS

Grading of TR was frequently discordant between TTE and 4D magnetic resonance imaging. Further studies are needed to elucidate the clinical impact of concordant/discordant TR grading on multimodality imaging.

The Last Decade in Tricuspid Regurgitation: How Imaging Shaped a Field

The tricuspid valve has become a major focus of novel structural heart interventions, with the Conformité Européenne approval of 5 devices in Europe and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of 2 devices in the United States. Multiple meta-analyses and large population-based registries have shown that although significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) often accompanies left heart or pulmonary vascular diseases, it is associated with an increased risk of mortality and a reduced quality of life after adjusting for these comorbidities. Echocardiography remains the imaging modality of choice for diagnosing the etiology and assessing the severity of TR. However, advanced imaging techniques have played an essential role in the rapid advancement of the structural field and, in particular, transcatheter interventions for TR. Herein, we review the advances made in this field, focusing on the role that imaging has played in shaping a new field of study.

Tricuspid Regurgitation in the Setting of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have been increasingly used in the management of various rhythm disorders amidst an aging population with more prevalent cardiovascular comorbidities. Although generally well-tolerated and safe, implantation of CIEDs may result in or worsen tricuspid regurgitation (TR), which is associated with a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Several mechanisms of TR following device implantation have been proposed, and multiple diagnostic tests, percutaneous and surgical interventions, and alternative pacing methods have been developed to address this. CIED-related TR thus requires a multidisciplinary team of experts in cardiac imaging, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, and cardiothoracic surgery with a comprehensive understanding of this multifaceted disease. The objective of this review is to summarize the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management of CIED-related TR.

Tricuspid Regurgitation Complicating Heart Failure: A Novel Clinical Entity

With the escalating incidence of heart failure, accurate diagnosis is paramount for tailored therapeutic interventions. The tricuspid valve, particularly tricuspid regurgitation, once relegated as the "forgotten valve", has gained prominence due to increasing evidence implicating severe tricuspid valve disease in the prognosis of diverse cardiovascular conditions. This review delineates recent significant advancements in imaging modalities, transcatheter interventions, and epidemiological and pathophysiological insights regarding tricuspid regurgitation complicating heart failure. A comprehensive understanding of these innovative concepts and technologies can significantly improve patient outcomes.

Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography for tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair: a step-by-step protocol

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) carries an unfavourable prognosis and often leads to progressive right ventricular (RV) failure. Secondary TR accounts for over 90% of cases and is caused by RV and/or tricuspid annulus dilation, in the setting of left heart disease or pulmonary hypertension. Surgical treatment for isolated TR entails a high operative risk and is seldom performed. Recently, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) has emerged as a low-risk alternative treatment in selected patients. Although the experience gained from mitral TEER has paved the way for the technique's adaptation to the tricuspid valve (TV), its anatomical complexity necessitates precise imaging. To this end, a comprehensive protocol integrating 2D and 3D imaging from both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) plays a crucial role. TTE allows for an initial morphological assessment of the TV, quantification of TR severity, evaluation of biventricular function, and non-invasive haemodynamic evaluation of pulmonary circulation. TOE, conversely, provides a detailed evaluation of TV morphology, enabling precise assessment of TR mechanism and severity, and represents the primary method for determining eligibility for TEER. Once a patient is considered eligible for TEER, TOE, alongside fluoroscopy, will guide the procedure in the catheterization lab. High-quality TOE imaging is crucial for patient selection and to achieve procedural success. The present review examines the roles of TTE and TOE in managing patients with severe TR eligible for TEER, proposing the step-by-step protocol successfully adopted in our centre.