Effect of aortic regurgitation following transcatheter aortic valve implantation on outcomes.

The prognosis of aortic regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and the changes in AR grade over time remain unclear. This study evaluated the midterm survival associated with AR after TAVI and examined the evolution of AR over time and its effect on cardiac performance. Successful TAVI was performed in 314 patients (age 81 ± 7 years, 36% men). Serial transthoracic echocardiography and clinical assessment were available in 175 patients who survived >12 months. AR was assessed in terms of overall, paravalvular, and intravalvular severity. Significant post-TAVI AR (grade ≥2) was observed in 82 patients (26%), and these patients showed a trend toward reduced survival at 1- (93% vs 91%) and 2-year (89% vs 74%, log-rank p = 0.063) follow-up. Of the 175 patients who survived >12 months, grade ≥2 overall, paravalvular, and intravalvular AR were noted in 47 (27%), 32 (18%), and 8 patients (5%), respectively. Significant overall and paravalvular AR appeared to improve over time, particularly during the first 6 months (p <0.05), whereas intravalvular AR remained unchanged. Although improvements in the echocardiographic parameters were similar among patients with and without significant AR, patients who remained with grade ≥2 AR at 6 months had significantly worse survival than their counterparts at 2 years (80% vs 94%, log-rank p = 0.032). In conclusion, significant overall and paravalvular AR after TAVI appeared to improve over time. Although improvements in the echocardiographic parameters were similar, patients with grade ≥2 AR, both immediately after TAVI and at 6 months, were associated with worse survival.