title: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with LV dysfunction: impact on mortality and predictors of LV function recovery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aortic stenosis patients with left ventricular dysfunction are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality following surgical aortic valve replacement. There are few published data regarding the outcomes of patients with severe aortic stenosis and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and possible predictors of LV recovery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the baseline characteristics and outcomes between patients with normal LV function and those with LV dysfunction and to assess the predictors of LV recovery after TAVI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 505 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI between November 2007 and January 2010. Patients were stratified according to LV function as follows: normal LV function (ejection fraction [EF] >50%), moderate LV dysfunction (EF 35%-50%) and severe LV dysfunction (EF ≤35%). The baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes, up to 6 months, were subsequently compared among the 3 patient subgroups. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of LV recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal LV function was identified in 324 patients (64%) and LV dysfunction in 181 patients (36%); in those with LV dysfunction, 111 patients (22%) had moderate LV dysfunction and 70 patients (14%) had severe LV dysfunction. As compared to patients with normal LV function, those with severe LV dysfunction were more likely to be male, had higher STS and logistic EuroSCORE, more coronary artery disease/previous coronary artery bypass surgery, higher NT-proBNP levels, lower mean transaortic valve gradients, and smaller aortic valve areas. No significant difference in 30-day mortality was observed between the LV function subgroups. The 6-month mortality, however, was 2-fold higher in patients with severe LV dysfunction (27% vs 15%, respectively; P=.03). Recovery of LVEF to more than 50% was observed in 15% of patients with baseline EF ≤35%. Baseline EF was the strongest independent predictor of LV recovery after TAVI (odds ratio, 85; 95% confidence interval, 19-380; P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a similar periprocedural outcome, patients with aortic stenosis and severe LV dysfunction exhibit a significantly increased 6-month mortality after TAVI. Survivors with LV dysfunction, however, show a significant potential for LV function recovery.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center, Munich, 80636, Germany. elhmidi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yacine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Elhmidi
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleiziffer
authors.forename: Marcus-André
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krane
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzitelli
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Nicolo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piazza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D065467:Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*