Incremental Prognostic Utility of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Asymptomatic Patients With Significant Chronic Aortic Regurgitation and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

This study sought to examine the prognostic utility of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) in asymptomatic patients with ≥III+ aortic regurgitation (AR), an indexed LV end-systolic dimension of <2.5 cm/m2, and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Management of asymptomatic patients with severe chronic AR and preserved LVEF is challenging and is typically based on LV dimensions. We studied 1,063 such patients (age 53 ± 16 years; 77% men) seen between 2003 and 2010 (excluding those with symptoms, obstructive coronary artery disease, acute AR/dissection, aortic/mitral stenosis, more than moderate mitral regurgitation, and previous cardiac surgery). Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score was calculated. The primary endpoint was mortality. Average resting LV-GLS was measured offline on 2-, 3-, and 4-chamber views using Velocity Vector Imaging (Siemens, Malvern, Pennsylvania). Mean STS score, LVEF, LV-GLS, and right ventricular systolic pressure were 4.4 ± 5.0%, 57.0 ± 4.0%, -19.5 ± 0.2%, and 31.0 ± 9.0 mm Hg, respectively. In total, 671 patients (63%) underwent aortic valve surgery at a median of 42 days after the initial evaluation. At 6.8 ± 3.0 years, 146 patients (14%) had died. On multivariable Cox survival analysis, LV-GLS (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.11), STS score (HR: 1.51), indexed LV end-systolic dimension (HR: 0.50), right ventricular systolic pressure (HR: 1.33), and aortic valve surgery (HR: 0.35) were associated with longer term mortality (all p < 0.001). Sequential addition of LV-GLS and aortic valve surgery improved the C-statistic for longer term mortality for the clinical model (STS score + right ventricular systolic pressure + indexed LV end-systolic dimension) from 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51 to 0.72) to 0.67 (95% CI: 0.54 to 0.87) and to 0.77 (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.90), respectively (p < 0.001 for both). A significantly higher proportion (log-rank p = 0.01) of patients with LV-GLS worse than median (-19.5%) died versus those with an LV-GLS better than median (86 of 513 [17%] vs. 60 of 550 [11%]). The risk of death at 5 years significantly increased with an LV-GLS of worse than -19%. In asymptomatic patients with ≥III+ chronic AR and preserved LVEF, worsening LV-GLS was associated with longer term mortality, providing incremental prognostic value and improved reclassification.

Alashi A ，Mentias A ，Abdallah A ，Feng K ，Gillinov AM ，Rodriguez LL ，Johnston DR ，Svensson LG ，Popovic ZB ，Griffin BP ，Desai MY ... -  《-》

Synergistic Utility of Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Asymptomatic Patients With Significant Primary Mitral Regurgitation and Preserved Systolic Function Undergoing Mitral Valve Surgery.

In asymptomatic patients with ≥3+ mitral regurgitation and preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction who underwent mitral valve surgery, we sought to discover whether baseline LV global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and brain natriuretic peptide provided incremental prognostic utility. Four hundred and forty-eight asymptomatic patients (61±12 years and 69% men) with ≥3+ primary mitral regurgitation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, who underwent mitral valve surgery (92% repair) at our center between 2005 and 2008, were studied. Baseline clinical and echocardiographic data (including LV-GLS using Velocity Vector Imaging, Siemens, PA) were recorded. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was calculated. The primary outcome was death. Mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, left ventricular ejection fraction, mitral effective regurgitant orifice, indexed LV end-diastolic volume, and right ventricular systolic pressure were 4±1%, 62±3%, 0.55±0.2 cm(2), 58±13 cc/m(2), and 37±15 mm Hg, respectively. Forty-five percent of patients had flail. Median log-transformed BNP and LV-GLS were 4.04 (absolute brain natriuretic peptide: 60 pg/dL) and -20.7%. At 7.7±2 years, death occurred in 41 patients (9%; 0% at 30 days). On Cox analysis, a higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons score (hazard ratio 1.55), higher baseline right ventricular systolic pressure (hazard ratio 1.11), more abnormal LV-GLS (hazard ratio 1.17), and higher median log-transformed BNP (hazard ratio 2.26) were associated with worse longer-term survival (all P<0.01). Addition of LV-GLS and median log-transformed BNP to a clinical model (Society of Thoracic Surgeons score and baseline right ventricular systolic pressure) provided incremental prognostic utility (χ(2) for longer-term mortality increased from 31-47 to 61; P<0.001). In asymptomatic patients with significant primary mitral regurgitation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction who underwent mitral valve surgery, brain natriuretic peptide and LV-GLS provided synergistic risk stratification, independent of established factors.

Alashi A ，Mentias A ，Patel K ，Gillinov AM ，Sabik JF ，Popović ZB ，Mihaljevic T ，Suri RM ，Rodriguez LL ，Svensson LG ，Griffin BP ，Desai MY ... -  《-》

Incremental Prognostic Use of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Asymptomatic/Minimally Symptomatic Patients With Severe Bioprosthetic Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Redo Aortic Valve Replacement.

Naji P ，Shah S ，Svensson LG ，Gillinov AM ，Johnston DR ，Rodriguez LL ，Grimm RA ，Griffin BP ，Desai MY ... -  《-》

Long-Term Outcomes After Aortic Valve Surgery in Patients With Asymptomatic Chronic Aortic Regurgitation and Preserved LVEF: Impact of Baseline and Follow-Up Global Longitudinal Strain.

This study sought to determine whether baseline left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in a subgroup of subjects at post-operative follow-up added prognostic value in patients undergoing aortic valve (AV) surgery. In patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and preserved LVEF, sensitive markers are needed to decide timing of AV surgery. This was an observational study in 865 patients (asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic, 52 ± 15 years of age, 79% men) with ≥3+ chronic AR and preserved LVEF of ≥50% who underwent AV surgery between 2003 and 2015. All patients had baseline echocardiography (and LV-GLS imaging), whereas 285 patients underwent post-operative echocardiography (including LV-GLS). Primary outcome was mortality. Only 478 patients (56%) patients had preoperative LV-GLS values better than -19%, despite a mean LVEF of 57 ± 4%. At a median 38 days, 632 patients underwent AV replacement, whereas 233 patients had AV repair. At a median follow-up of 6.95 (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.2 to 9.1) years, 105 patients (12%) died (2% in-hospital deaths). A higher proportion of patients with baseline LV-GLS grades worse than -19% died versus those whose LV-GLS score was better (15% vs. 10%; p < 0.01), and worse LV-GLS value was independently associated with higher longer-term mortality (hazard ratio: 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40 to 1.86]; p < 0.001). In the 285 patients who underwent echo at 3 to 12 months post-operatively, LVEF normalized in 91% patients; however, only 88 patients (31%) had LV-GLS values better than -19%. Patients whose follow-up LV-GLS value was better than -19% had significantly better longer-term survival than those whose LV-GLS was not (5% vs. 15%, respectively; p < 0.01). An absolute worsening of 5% of LV-GLS from baseline was associated with increased mortality. In patients with ≥3+ chronic AR and preserved LVEF undergoing AV surgery, a baseline LV-GLS value worse than -19% was associated with reduced survival. In a subgroup of patients who returned for 3- and 12-month follow-up examinations, persistently impaired LV-GLS was associated with increased mortality.

Alashi A ，Khullar T ，Mentias A ，Gillinov AM ，Roselli EE ，Svensson LG ，Popovic ZB ，Griffin BP ，Desai MY ... -  《-》

Strain Echocardiography and Functional Capacity in Asymptomatic Primary Mitral Regurgitation With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

The potential additive utility of baseline resting left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and exercise stress testing in risk stratification of patients with significant mitral regurgitation (MR) has not been studied. The goal of this study was to determine whether resting LV-GLS and exercise testing provide incremental prognostic utility in asymptomatic patients with ≥3+ primary MR and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Between 2000 and 2011, resting and exercise echocardiography data, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) scores, and death were recorded in 737 patients (mean age 58 ± 13 years; 68% men). Coronary artery disease and flail leaflet were seen in 10% and 28% of patients, respectively. STS score, resting left ventricular ejection fraction, mitral effective regurgitant orifice, resting right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), exercise metabolic equivalents (METs), and percentage of age-/sex-predicted METs were 1.5 ± 1%, 62 ± 2%, 0.45 ± 0.2 cm2, 31 ± 12 mm Hg, 9.8 ± 3, and 115 ± 27, respectively. Median LV-GLS was -21.7%. Within 3 months (interquartile range: 1 to 15 months), 65% underwent mitral valve surgery. At 8.3 ± 3 years, 64 (9%) patients died (0% 30-day post-operative deaths). On multivariable Cox survival analysis, higher STS score (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.14), more abnormal resting LV-GLS (HR: 1.60), higher baseline RVSP (HR: 1.35), and lower percentage of age-/sex-predicted METs (HR: 1.13) were associated with higher mortality, whereas mitral valve surgery (HR: 0.82) was associated with improved survival (all p < 0.01). Addition of predicted METs and resting LV-GLS to STS, resting RVSP, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, and mitral effective regurgitant orifice increased the C-statistic for longer-term mortality from 0.61 to 0.69 and 0.78, respectively (all p < 0.01). On quadratic spline analysis, the risk of death progressively increased as resting LV-GLS worsened below -21%. Reduced exercise capacity and worsening resting LV-GLS were associated with mortality, providing additive prognostic utility.

Mentias A ，Naji P ，Gillinov AM ，Rodriguez LL ，Reed G ，Mihaljevic T ，Suri RM ，Sabik JF ，Svensson LG ，Grimm RA ，Griffin BP ，Desai MY ... -  《-》