title: Identification of the Asymptomatic Patient With Severe Mitral Regurgitation: Discrepancy Between Research and Clinical Practice.
abstract: Organic mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common disorder, and because of the increase in population and its aging, the occurrence of MR is steadily increasing. Current guideline recommendations on the management of asymptomatic severe MR are conflicting and based solely on registries or nonrandomized trials in expert heart valve clinics, resulting in a lack of evidence for the best treatment strategy. In this review, we will evaluate the latest evidence on diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for asymptomatic patients without a clear indication for surgical intervention. Implications for management in daily practice are discussed, including an update on the diagnostic approaches that are currently available for the evaluation of MR. For optimal care, it is important that every severe MR patient, including the unidentified patient, is referred to a specialized heart team and is assessed on an individual basis according to the guideline recommendations, experience of the surgical center, and the patient's characteristics and preferences. Screening and diagnostic approaches need to be performed on the basis of standardized protocols and strict criteria. In addition, specialized valve centers must meet the surgical criteria to guarantee high reparability rates in asymptomatic patients. Awareness among cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, improved guidelines adherence, and a systematic approach, including strict criteria in the management of asymptomatic patients with severe organic MR, will ensure reliable and applicable results in research and daily clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; †Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ‡Department of Cardiology, South Manchester University Hospitals, Manchester, United Kingdom; and §Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rosemarijn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Jolanda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kluin
authors.forename: Simon G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Maarten Jan M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Willem J L
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Suyker
authors.forename: Steven A J
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Chamuleau
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002309:Cardiology / Q000592:standards*; D019468:Disease Management; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*