Abstract:
Objective To explore the short-term prognosis of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for pure severe aortic regurgitation (AR) patients complicated with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH).
Methods From June 2021 to December 2022, 29 patients with pure severe AR and PAH who underwent TAVR in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University were enrolled. They were divided in mild to moderate PAH group (35≤SPAP < 50 mmHg, n=18) and severe PAH group (SPAP≥50 mmHg, n=11) according to their pulmonary artery pressure. The baseline information, imaging data and follow-up information of the patients were collected.
Results Compared with mild to moderate PAH group, more patients in the severe PAH group were diagnosed with 3-4 NYHA cardiac function grade (100% vs 61%, P=0.018), with a higher level of serum BNP (2 820.35±1 762.82 vs 1 241.09±1 999.86 mg/mL, P=0.040), and lower LVEF (45.64±10.24% vs 54.61±11.36%, P=0.042). Besides, Higher proportion of patients in severe PAH group were found with moderate to sever mitral regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation, respectively (73% vs 33%, P=0.039; 82% vs 33%, P=0.011). After TAVR surgery, the degree of AR was significantly improved and SPAP markedly reduced at 1 day and 1 month after operation (P < 0.001), the systolic blood pressure of the pulmonary arteries significantly decreased (P < 0.001), the degree of tricuspid regurgitation was significantly decreased in the severe AR combined with severe PAH group (P=0.009). During the hospital and 1-month follow-up, it was found that patients with AR combined with varying degrees of PAH did not experience any all-cause or cardiac death events within 1 day and 1 month after surgery. Among them, 5.56% of patients with severe AR combined with mild to moderate and 9.09% of patients with severe PAH experienced moderate to severe perivalve leakage 1 day and 1 month after surgery, respectively. The proportion of moderate to severe AR was 5.56% and 9.09%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative adverse events between the two groups.
Conclusions TAVR is safe and effective in the treatment of simple severe AR complicated with PAH. It can improve AR and reduce pulmonary artery pressure simultaneously.