Differences in mitral valve geometry between atrial and ventricular functional mitral regurgitation in patients with atrial fibrillation: a 3D transoesophageal echocardiography study

Aims: This study investigated geometric differences in mitral valve apparatus between atrial functional mitral regurgitation (A-FMR) and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using 3D transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE).

Methods and results: In total, 135 moderate or greater FMR patients with persistent AF or atrial flutter underwent 3D TOE. Fifty-six patients had A-FMR, defined as preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥50% and normal LV wall motion. Seventy-nine patients had ventricular FMR (V-FMR), defined as LV dysfunction (LVEF of <50%) or LV wall motion abnormality. To evaluate mitral leaflet coaptation, the coapted area was calculated as follows: total leaflet area (TLA) in end-diastole - closed leaflet area in mid-systole. Although annular area (AA) did not significantly differ between the two groups, TLA was significantly smaller in A-FMR than in V-FMR (P = 0.005). TLA/AA, indicating the degree of the leaflet remodelling, was significantly smaller in A-FMR than in V-FMR (P < 0.001). A-FMR had significantly smaller posterior mitral leaflet tethering height and angle measured at three anteroposterior planes (lateral, central, and medial) than V-FMR (all P < 0.001). However, vena contracta width (VCW) measured on long-axis view on TOE and coapted area, which correlated with VCW (r = -0.464, P < 0.001), were similar between the two groups.

Conclusion: Mitral leaflet remodelling may be less in A-FMR compared with V-FMR. However, leaflet tethering was smaller in A-FMR than in V-FMR, and this may result in a similar degree of mitral leaflet coaptation and mitral regurgitation severity.