Increased distance between mitral valve coaptation point and mitral annular plane: significance and correlations in patients with heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the distance between the mitral leaflet coaptation point and the mitral annulus (CPMA) and assess the relation of this index to structural and functional characteristics of the failing left ventricle.


METHODS
Echocardiographic indices and CPMA were measured at baseline and again during dobutamine infusion and leg lifting. Left ventricular diastolic and systolic dimensions, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by Simpson's rule, mitral annulus dimension, and E point septal separation were correlated with CPMA.


METHODS
Tertiary referral centre.


METHODS
The total study population of 129 patients included 94 with LVEF < 35% and 35 with LVEF 35%-45%; 76 had coronary artery disease and 53 had dilated cardiomyopathy.


METHODS
A dobutamine infusion was given in 18 patients and preload increase by leg lifting in 28.


METHODS
Correlations between CPMA and contractility indices at baseline and during interventions.


RESULTS
CPMA was correlated with left ventricular diastolic dimension (r = 0.52), left ventricular systolic dimension (r = 0.53), LVEF (r = -0.44), fractional shortening (r = -0.42), E point septal separation (r = 0.48), and mitral annulus dimension (r = 0.44) (all p < 0.001). Dobutamine decreased CPMA from (mean (SD)) 12.04 (3.64) mm to 8.92 (2.56) mm and increased LVEF from 27 (6.2)% at baseline to 33.4 (6.9)% at 10 microg/kg/min (both p < 0.001). These changes were strongly related (r = 0.68, p < 0.007). After leg lifting, CPMA decreased from 13 (4) mm at baseline to 10 (3) mm (p < 0.001), and LVEF increased from 32 (11)% at baseline to 39 (11)% (p < 0.001). Fractional shortening and left ventricular diastolic dimension also increased (p < 0.001) and mitral annulus dimension and E point septal separation decreased (p < 0.002), but left ventricular systolic dimension did not change.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanism displacing the mitral coaptation point towards the left ventricular apex is multifactorial. The correlations between CPMA difference (before versus after interventions) and ejection fraction difference (before versus after interventions) shows that this index depends mainly on left ventricular function.
Karagiannis
S E
SE
First Cardiology Department, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre, Athens, Greece. georgekar2001@yahoo.com
Karatasakis
G T
GT
Koutsogiannis
N
N
Athanasopoulos
G D
GD
Cokkinos
D V
DV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004280:Dobutamine; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004280:Dobutamine