Mean Aortic pressure gradient and global longitudinal strain recovery after transcatheter aortic valve replacement – A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) has incremental value in assessing left ventricular (LV) function in severe aortic stenosis and is related to clinical outcome after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to identify relevant echocardiographic predictors of GLS improvement and myocardial function recovery after TAVR. METHODS: We analyzed baseline and 12-month follow-up echocardiograms for LV strain analysis from 123 patients who underwent at Emory University Hospital with the Edwards SAPIEN valve between 7/2007 and 7/2013. RESULTS: At baseline, 61 had reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤50% (rEF), and 80 had preserved LVEF >50% (pEF). Higher baseline mean pressure gradient (MPG) and aortic peak velocity (AV Vmax) predicted myocardial function recovery defined as ≥20% improvement in global longitudinal strain (r = 0.29, p < .001; r = 0.26, p = .002). When analyzing subjects with discordant changes in GLS and LVEF at follow-up, subjects with improved GLS, although reduced LVEF after TAVR, experienced a greater reduction in MPG and AV Vmax (-40 vs. -30, p = 0.015; -2.3 vs. -1.9, p = .021) after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: In high-risk patients undergoing TAVR for severe aortic stenosis, GLS is impaired and more impaired in patients with reduced EF. Higher baseline MPG predicts myocardial function recovery. GLS improvement after TAVR is related to relief of pressure overload.