Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) as prognostic indicator in patients undergoing transcatheter valve repair (TTVR) of severe tricuspid regurgitation

Background: TTVR represents a minimal invasive alternative for patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR). PCWP is a haemodynamic parameter indicating pulmonary hypertension due to left-sided heart failure.

Methods: We evaluated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) as prognostic outcome parameter in patients undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVR). A total of 60 patients who underwent right heart catheterization prior to TTVR were included. Patient population was categorized into a low and high PCWP group according to the median PCWP of 16 mmHg.

Results: TTVR included transcatheter tricuspid annuloplasty (13 patients) and edge-to-edge repair [37 patients for isolated TR; 10 patients for combined TR and mitral regurgitation]. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test revealed reduced 6-months event-free survival for patients with high PCWP (>16 mmHg) in comparison to those with low PCWP (≤16 mmHg) (p = 0.009). High PCWP was associated with increased occurrence of the composite endpoint of death and cardiac readmission (HR 4.67, 1.32-16.55). Moreover, adjusted with other predictive variables within the univariate analysis (left ventricular ejection fraction, history of smoking, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion), PCWP remained an endpoint predictor (HR 1.11, 1.003-1.24). Best predicting value was evaluated for the cut-off >16 mmHg (AUC 0.700, 0.552-0.848). Patients with a high PCWP tended to have less TR recurrence (p = 0,059) and lower NYHA class (p = 0.062) after one month of follow-up.

Conclusion: Here we demonstrate that PCWP is a predictive outcome parameter in TTVR patients. Patients with a PCWP ≤16 mmHg had a favourable outcome with lower mortality and morbidity gaining more benefit of TTVR.