Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Far from being historically considered a primary healthcare problem, tricuspid regurgitation (TR) has recently gained much attention from the scientific community. In fact, in the last years, robust evidence has emerged regarding the epidemiological impact of TR, whose prevalence seems to be similar to that of other valvulopathies, such as aortic stenosis, with an estimated up to 4% of people >75 years affected by at least moderate TR in the United States, and up to 23% among patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. This recurrent coexistence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and TR is not surprising, considered the multiple etiologies of tricuspid valve disease. TR can complicate heart failure mostly as a functional disease, because of pulmonary hypertension (PH), subsequent to elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, leading to right ventricular dilatation, and valve tethering. Moreover, the so-called “functional isolated” TR can occur, in the absence of PH, as a result of right atrial dilatation associated with atrial fibrillation, a common finding in patients with LVSD. Finally, TR can result as a iatrogenic consequence of transvalvular lead insertion, another frequent scenario in this cohort of patients. Nonetheless, despite the significant coincidence of these two conditions, their mutual relation, and the independent prognostic role of TR is still a matter of debate. Whether significant TR is just a marker for advanced left-heart disease, or a crucial potential therapeutical target, remains unclear. Aim of the authors in this review is to present an update concerning the epidemiological features and the clinical burden of TR in the context of LVSD, its prognostic value, and the potential benefit for early tricuspid intervention in patients affected by contemporary TR and LVSD.
Highlights
The long-time accepted idea that tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a benign valvular condition has been deeply rebutted by almost one decade of insights into its epidemiological and clinical implication
The question concerning the prognostic role of TR in the natural history of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) has been debated for decades, only in the recent years we have gained a significant amount of evidences, with well-designed studies across most of the various clinical scenarios, that could help dealing with our initial dilemma: does TR represent just a marker for advanced myocardial disease, or is it an independent cause of the adverse outcome and a potential therapeutic target? The answer may not be univocal
The authors have demonstrated that the prognostic role of TR may depend upon the stage of HF, as their prospective long-term observational study on 576 consecutive patients revealed that TR was significantly related with the combined endpoint of death/heart transplantation/left ventricular-assist device implantation in patients suffering from mild or moderate LVSD (HR 1.368, CI 1.070–1.748, p = 0.0125) but not in those with severe LVSD
Summary
In the last years, robust evidence has emerged regarding the epidemiological impact of TR, whose prevalence seems to be similar to that of other valvulopathies, such as aortic stenosis, with an estimated up to 4% of people >75 years affected by at least moderate TR in the United States, and up to 23% among patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. This recurrent coexistence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and TR is not surprising, considered the multiple etiologies of tricuspid valve disease.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
