MitraClip patient selection: inclusion and exclusion criteria for optimal outcomes

Edge-to-edge repair with the percutaneous MitraClip technology has changed the landscape for patients with symptomatic, severe mitral valve regurgitation, with already >60,000 procedures performed worldwide. The optimal outcome of a MitraClip intervention can be expected in a patient at prohibitive surgical risk with degenerative mitral valve regurgitation (DMR) between the P2/A2 scallops and an expected reduction of the mitral valve regurgitation (MR) to ≤2+, which is achieved in >95% of cases.

In the initial experience of >500 patients treated with commercial transcatheter mitral valve repair in the USA (1), the 30-day outcome data showed that the A2-P2 location was targeted in 78% of cases, with 37% of cases requiring >1 device. The location of clip implantation was shown to be critical for clinical success. Univariate analysis suggests, a MitraClip in the A2/P2 location was associated with higher post-implantation success, as indicated by an MR grade ≤2 [odds ratio (OR) vs. other location: 2.29; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20 to 4.36; P=0.02]. For the primary composite outcome (i.e., residual MR grade ≤2, no conversion to cardiac surgery and no in-hospital mortality), clip implantation at A2/P2 remained significant in multivariate models (OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.26 to 4.46; P=0.008). Of note, in this US-registry only 9% of patients had functional mitral regurgitation (FMR), showing a strict adherence of US operators to inclusion/exclusion criteria as dictated by the directions for use (DFU) of the MitraClip device (Table 1).

Table 1 Current inclusion and exclusion criteria for MitraClip therapy (US)
Full table

While the A2/P2 pathology in DMR may be considered ideal anatomy for a MitraClip intervention, the most common clinical indication worldwide is functional MR (FMR), present in 60% to 80% of case (2). Multiple ongoing trials are evaluating the role of MitraClip in FMR. These include a multicenter, randomized control study to assess Mitral vAlve reconsTrucTion for advancEd Insufficiency of Functional or iscHemic ORigiN (MATTERHORN, NCT02371512), the Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation (COAPT, NCT01626079), the randomized Study of the MitraClip Device in Heart Failure Patients with Clinically Significant Functional Mitral Regurgitation (RESHAPE) and the Multicenter Study of Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair MitraClip Device in Patients With Severe Secondary Mitral Regurgitation [MITRA-FR, NCT01920698 (3)] randomized trials. These trials compare the percutaneous edge-to-edge repair with optimal medical therapy (COAPT, RESHAPE, MITRA-FR) or surgery (MATTERHORN) in FMR patients and should help to clarify the role and indication of percutaneous MitraClip edge-to-edge repair in these patients.

Single center reports have evaluated outcomes of patients with versus without “EVEREST criteria” (Table 2), which had been used to enroll patients into the pre-clinical studies. Overall, these studies have shown comparable outcomes, but higher rates of recurrent symptomatic MR and need for more re-interventions, mainly because of functional etiology or complex valve pathology (5). Few prospective observational registries have reported direct outcome comparisons between FMR and DMR patients treated with MitraClip (2,6-11). In a recent meta-analysis of these studies, Chiarito et al. showed that mitral valve re-intervention at 1 year was at a significantly lower rate in patients with FMR compared with those with DMR (4% vs. 10%, FMR vs. DMR, respectively; RR 0.60; 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.97; P=0.04) without a significant difference in mortality between the two groups (18% vs. 14%, FMR vs. DMR, respectively; RR 1.26; 95% CI: 0.90 to 1.77; P=0.18). Both, DMR and FMR patients showed an acceptable 15% recurrence of >2+ MR. While incomplete, these data should be considered successful in the context of historically high surgical failure rates after surgical valve repair for FMR patients (between 14–66%) (12-14). Notably, FMR patients presented more frequently in severe heart failure (i.e., NYHA III/IV) and were re-hospitalized for heart failure more often at 1-year follow-up, despite no significant difference in the recurrence of MR ≥2+ between the two groups (15). These results underscore the clinical dilemma of treating patients with severe functional MR, without directly addressing the underlying valvular cardiomyopathy.

Table 2 Everest criteria (4)
Full table

Does the degree of MR matter?

The degree of MR going into the procedure can affect the short- and long-term outcome after the implantation. The Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT) registry data demonstrated that baseline MR degree grade impacts the success as defined by post-procedural MR ≤2 (OR per increasing grade: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.93; P=0.02). In addition, the presence of multiple jets of MR can negatively impact short- and long-term outcomes of MitraClip due to the high likelihood of requiring multiple clips to achieve an adequate reduction of MR (16). On the other hand, there are reports cautioning against a single clip strategy, suggesting increased risk of residual and recurrent MR (17).

Ejection fraction—how low is too low?

Data from the German transcatheter mitral valve interventions registry (TRAMI, >800 patients) show that an ejection fraction of <30% is an independent predictor of 1-year mortality (18). Similarly, Giannini et al. have demonstrated that reverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling after percutaneous edge-to-edge repair can more likely be expected in patients without advanced congestive heart failure (i.e., left ventricular ejection fraction >30%) and without severe left ventricular dilation (left ventricular end-diastolic diameter <70 mm, left ventricular end-diastolic volume <200 mL) (19). Moreover, it is well known that left ventricular dysfunction, as assessed by echocardiography prior to repair or replacement, is often underestimated in patients with severe MR because of a systolic unloading resulting from low-resistance ejection to the left atrium (20). Current clinical trials have excluded most patients with ejection fraction <30%, and practice guidelines also caution against open surgery for patients with such severe dysfunction. While MitraClip can palliate symptoms in patients with severe dysfunction and even salvage those in cardiogenic shock, the long-term survival effect of such treatment needs further study.

Does the valve area and calcification matter?

The TVT registry data did not show any significant association of pre-procedural mitral valve area <4 cm², mitral annular calcification, or mitral valve gradient >4 mmHg with procedural success (1), even though these findings were evident in ~20% of patients. In carefully selected patients with these abnormalities, MitraClip can be performed successfully. Notably, the greatest reduction in mitral valve area with MitraClip occurs when clip placement is performed in the center of the valve (i.e., A2-P2), as this position leads to the greatest reduction in the septal-lateral dimension of the mitral valve (i.e., up to 50% reduction in area). When MR treatment occurs away from this area (i.e., A1-P1 or A3-P3), treatment may be successful but other studies have shown that optimal results are less likely in patients with even borderline elevated mitral gradient pre-procedure and mitral annular calcification (16). In our experience, we have not found value in the use of MitraClip in patients with either rheumatic or radiation-induced heart disease and overall support the best practice of MitraClip therapy for patients with a mitral valve area ≥4 cm².

Other applications

MitraClip therapy has also successfully been applied in other applications, such as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) (21), as well as in the treatment of recurrent mitral valve regurgitation after mitral valve ring repair (22). For HOCM, MitraClip limits the systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral valve leaflet, thereby reducing left ventricular outflow obstruction, while also addressing the dynamic mitral regurgitation. Early experience has been positive, though caution must be used in these patients due to their relatively small mitral annuli. Similarly, relatively small mitral annuli are also a concern in patients with prior surgery, due to the frequent use of down-sized annuloplasty bands or rings. MitraClip in post-surgical patients is possible, provided there is suitable tissue for anchoring—a challenge when leaflet resection has been undertaken. Although the DFU for MitraClip excludes its use in patients with femoral or caval thrombi, a case report by Barbin et al. shows that it can be done if absolutely necessary and in the context of lack of alternative treatment options (23).

Importance of a multidisciplinary heart team approach

MITRA-FR (3), RESHAPE and COAPT will clarify the role of MitraClip vs. optimal guideline-directed medical therapy alone in patients with functional mitral valve regurgitation. While we await the results of these important trials, we consider the addition of an advanced heart failure specialist to the heart team essential. In concert with a cardiovascular surgeon and an implanting interventional cardiologist, this team can ascertain that the patient with functional mitral valve regurgitation receives the optimal therapy for the primary left ventricular pathophysiology. The heart team should therefore always carefully weigh risks and benefits as well as the likelihood of adequate repair success between MitraClip and surgical repair. Some may advocate a ‘give MitraClip a try first’ strategy, but this approach must be tempered greatly when the patient is operable and the chance of complete MR relief with repair-surgery is high. Indeed, most of the patients with failed MitraClip implantation will require a mitral valve replacement (24).

Conclusions

MitraClip presents an excellent therapeutic option for patients with mitral valve regurgitation who are at prohibitive risk for a surgical repair or replacement. Ongoing randomized controlled trials in patients with functional mitral valve regurgitation will provide further insight into the role of this therapy in comparison to medical therapy or surgery. It remains crucial to select the best-suited patients for this therapy through an advanced heart team decision-making process. Current inclusion and exclusion criteria have consistently been shown to be key in short- and long-term procedural success.

Acknowledgements

None.

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

References

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