Reverse Myocardial Remodeling Following Valve Repair in Patients With Chronic Severe Primary Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation.

Abstract Objectives The aims of this study were to quantify preoperative myocardial fibrosis using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), extracellular volume fraction (ECV%), and indexed extracellular volume (iECV) on cardiac magnetic resonance; determine whether this varies following surgery; and examine the impact on postoperative outcomes. Background Myocardial fibrosis complicates chronic severe primary mitral regurgitation and is associated with left ventricular dilatation and dysfunction. It is not known if this nonischemic fibrosis is reversible following surgery or if it affects ventricular remodeling and patient outcomes. Methods A multicenter prospective study was conducted among 104 subjects with primary mitral regurgitation undergoing mitral valve repair. Cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing were performed preoperatively and ≥6 months after surgery. Symptoms were assessed using the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire. Results Mitral valve repair was performed for Class 2a indications in 65 patients and Class 1 indications in 39 patients. Ninety-three patients were followed up at 8.8 months (interquartile range: 7.4 months-10.6 months). Following surgery, there were significant reductions in both ECV% (from 27.4% to 26.6%; P = 0.027) and iECV (from 17.9 to 15.4 mL/m2; P  Conclusions Mitral valve surgery results in reductions in ECV% and iECV, which are surrogates of diffuse myocardial fibrosis, and preoperative iECV predicts the degree of postoperative remodeling irrespective of symptoms. (The Role of Myocardial Fibrosis in Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation; NCT02355418 )