Assessment of mitral apparatus in patients with acute inferoposterior myocardial infarction and ischaemic mitral regurgitation with two-dimensional echocardiography from anatomically correct imaging planes.

BACKGROUND

Ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is associated with adverse prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI) as a result of left ventricular remodelling and geometric deformation of the mitral apparatus (MA).

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess MA from anatomically correct imaging planes in acute inferoposterior MI and IMR.

METHODS

Ninety-three patients with no structural cardiac valve abnormalities and the first acute inferoposterior MI were prospectively enrolled into the study. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography for MA assessment was performed within 48 h of presentation after reperfusion therapy. Based on the degree of mitral regurgitation (MR), patients were divided into either a no significant MR (NMR) group (n = 52 with no or mild, grade 0-I MR) or an IMR group (n = 41 with grade ≥ 2 MR). The control group consisted of 45 healthy individuals.

RESULTS

Ischaemic MR was related with dilatation of the left ventricle chambers, decrease in ejection fraction, increase in mitral annulus diameter and area, and changes in subvalvular apparatus when compared with the NMR group or healthy individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Ischaemic MR in acute inferoposterior MI is related with worse lesions in MA geometry that cause insufficiency of mitral valve function.