Project description:AimsData on mitral annular disjunction (MAD) in children with Marfan syndrome (MFS) are sparse. To investigate the diagnostic yield of MAD by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), its prevalence and progression during childhood.Methods and resultsWe included patients <21 years old with MFS, defined by 2010 Ghent criteria and a pathogenic FBN1 variant or ectopia lentis. Two readers measured systolic separation between the mitral valve (MV) posterior hinge point and left ventricular (LV) myocardium on initial and subsequent imaging. MAD was defined as MV-LV separation ≥2 mm, MV prolapse (MVP) as atrial displacement ≥2 mm. Kappa coefficients evaluated echocardiogram-CMR agreement. Bland-Altman and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) assessed inter-rater and inter-modality reliability. Univariable mixed-effects linear regression was used to evaluate longitudinal changes of MAD. MAD was detected in 60% (110/185) eligible patients. MVP was present in 48% (53/110) of MAD and MAD in 90% (53/59) of MVP. MAD detection by CMR and echocardiography had 96% overall agreement (Kappa = 0.89, P < 0.001) and a 0.32 mm estimate bias (95% CI 0.00, 0.65). ICC by echocardiography, CMR, and between modalities were 0.97 (95% CI 0.93, 0.98), 0.92 (95% CI 0.79, 0.97), and 0.91 (95% CI 0.85, 0.94), respectively. MAD was associated with aortic root dilation (P < 0.001). MAD was found in children of all ages, increased +0.18 mm/year (95% CI +0.14, +0.22) during a median duration of 5.5 years (IQR 3.1, 7.5 years). MAD indexed by height yielded a constant value +0.0002 mm/m/year (95% CI -0.0002, +0.0005 mm/m/year).ConclusionMAD was common in pediatric MFS and was associated with aortic root dilation. MAD detection by echocardiography and CMR was highly reliable, suggesting that routine assessment in MFS is feasible. MAD was present in neonates and progressed over time but remained constant when indexing by height. Further studies are needed to evaluate MAD as a biomarker for clinical outcomes in pediatric MFS.
Project description:ImportanceMitral annular disjunction (MAD) has received particular interest in patients with mitral valve prolapse, ventricular tachycardia, and sudden cardiac death. The clinical significance of MAD for patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) remains largely unexplored.ObjectiveTo define the prevalence of MAD and examine its association with cardiovascular outcomes and arrhythmia among patients with MFS.Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective, single-center cohort study included 142 patients with a diagnosis of MFS based on the revised Ghent criteria and a confirmed (likely) pathogenic variant in the FBN1 gene who underwent regular follow-up between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019.Main outcomes and measuresThe presence of MAD was assessed by echocardiography, and the extent of MAD was categorized in tertiles. Patients also underwent resting electrocardiography and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Outcomes included aortic events (aortic dissection or prophylactic aortic surgery), arrhythmic events (defined as sustained ventricular tachycardia or sudden cardiac death), and mitral valve surgery.ResultsA total of 142 patients (72 female patients [51%]; median age at first examination, 25 years [range, 2-64 years]) were evaluated. Forty-eight patients (34%) had MAD. Patients with MAD had larger aortic root z scores than patients without MAD (4.1 [interquartile range, 2.8-5.7] vs 3.0 [interquartile range, 1.8-4.0]; P < .001) and more often had mitral valve prolapse (34 of 48 [71%] vs 14 of 94 [15%]; P < .001), ventricular ectopy (14 of 33 [42%] vs 15 of 70 [21%]; P = .03), and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (13 of 33 [39%] vs 12 of 70 [17%]; P = .01). During follow-up, aortic events occurred at similar rates among patients with vs without MAD (15 of 43 [35%] vs 21 of 84 [25%]; P = .24), but patients in the upper MAD tertile (>10 mm) showed a higher occurrence of aortic events compared with patients with MAD of 10 mm or smaller (9 of 15 [60%] vs 6 of 28 [21%]; P = .01). Patients with arrhythmic events (n = 5) and patients requiring mitral valve surgery (n = 7) were observed exclusively in the group displaying MAD.Conclusions and relevanceThis study suggests that MAD among patients with MFS is associated with the occurrence of arrhythmic events, a higher need for mitral valve intervention, and, among patients with extensive MAD, more aortic events. Cardiac imaging for patients with MFS should consider the assessment of MAD as a potential marker for adverse outcomes.
Project description:Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) is routinely diagnosed by cardiac imaging, mostly by echocardiography, and shown to be a risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias. While MAD is associated with mitral valve (MV) prolapse (MVP), it is unknown which patients with MAD are at higher risk and which additional imaging features may help identify them. The value of cardiac computed tomography (CCT) for the diagnosis of MAD is unknown. Accordingly, we aimed to: (1) develop a standardized CCT approach to identify MAD in patients with MVP and severe mitral regurgitation (MR); (2) determine its prevalence and identify features that are associated with MAD in this population. We retrospectively studied 90 patients (age 63 ± 12 years) with MVP and severe MR, who had pre-operative CCT (256-slice scanner) of sufficient quality for analysis. The presence and degree of MAD was assessed by rotating the view plane around the MV center to visualize disjunction along the annulus. Additionally, detailed measurements of MV apparatus and left heart chambers were performed. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which parameters were associated with MAD. MAD was identified in 18 patients (20%), and it was typically located adjacent to a prolapsed or flail mitral leaflet scallop. Of these patients, 75% had maximum MAD distance > 4.8 mm and 90% > 3.8 mm. Female gender was most strongly associated with MAD (p = 0.04). Additionally, smaller end-diastolic mitral annulus area (p = 0.045) and longer posterior leaflet (p = 0.03) were associated with greater MAD. No association was seen between MAD and left ventricular size and function, left atrial size, and papillary muscle geometry. CCT can be used to readily detect MAD, by taking advantage of the 3D nature of this modality. A significant portion of MVP patients referred for mitral valve repair have MAD. The presence of MAD is associated with female gender, smaller annulus size and greater posterior leaflet length.
Project description:BackgroundMitral annular disjunction (MAD) consists of an altered spatial relation between the left atrial wall, the attachment of the mitral leaflets, and the top of the left ventricular (LV) free wall, manifested as a wide separation between the atrial wall-mitral valve junction and the top of the LV free wall. Originally described in association with myxomatous mitral valve disease, this abnormality was recently revisited by a surgical group that pointed its relevance for mitral valve reparability. The aims of this study were to investigate the echocardiographic prevalence of mitral annular disjunction in patients with myxomatous mitral valve disease, and to characterize the clinical profile and echocardiographic features of these patients.MethodsWe evaluated 38 patients with myxomatous mitral valve disease (mean age 57 ± 15 years; 18 females) and used standard transthoracic echocardiography for measuring the MAD. Mitral annular function, assessed by end-diastolic and end-systolic annular diameters, was compared between patients with and without MAD. We compared the incidence of arrhythmias in a subset of 21 patients studied with 24-hour Holter monitoring.ResultsMAD was present in 21 (55%) patients (mean length: 7.4 ± 8.7 mm), and was more common in women (61% vs 38% in men; p = 0.047). MAD patients more frequently presented chest pain (43% vs 12% in the absence of MAD; p = 0.07). Mitral annular function was significantly impaired in patients with MAD in whom the mitral annular diameter was paradoxically larger in systole than in diastole: the diastolic-to-systolic mitral annular diameter difference was -4,6 ± 4,7 mm in these patients vs 3,4 ± 1,1 mm in those without MAD (p < 0.001). The severity of MAD significantly correlated with the occurrence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) on Holter monitoring: MAD›8.5 mm was a strong predictor for (NSVT), (area under ROC curve = 0.74 (95% CI, 0.5-0.9); sensitivity 67%, specificity 83%). There were no differences between groups regarding functional class, severity of mitral regurgitation, LV volumes, and LV systolic function.ConclusionsMAD is a common finding in myxomatous mitral valve disease patients, easily recognizable by transthoracic echocardiography. It is more prevalent in women and often associated with chest pain. MAD significantly disturbs mitral annular function and when severe predicts the occurrence of NSVT.
Project description:IntroductionIn patients with mitral annular disjunction (MAD), it can be difficult to assess the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR), as they present with a prolapsing volume (i.e. volume resulting from mitral valve prolapse, blood volume shift) rather than a regurgitant jet. The influence of the mitral prolapsing volume (MPV) on cardiac dimensions is unknown. We hypothesised that the severity of MR is underestimated in these patients. Our aim was to measure MPV and to investigate its influence on cardiac dimensions in patients with MAD.MethodsWe retrospectively included 131 consecutive patients with MAD from our institution's echocardiographic database. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess MPV. Additionally, we established a control group of 617 consecutive patients with degenerative mitral valve disease and performed propensity score matching.ResultsMedian MPV in the MAD group was 12 ml. MPV was an independent predictor for left ventricular end-diastolic (LVEDD) and end-systolic diameter (LVESD) and left atrial volume (all p < 0.001). In patients with large prolapsing volumes (> 15 ml), LVEDD (56 ± 6 mm vs 51 ± 6 mm, p < 0.001), LVESD [38 mm (34-41) vs 34 mm (31-39), p < 0.01] and left atrial volume [105 ml (86-159) vs 101 ml (66-123), p = 0.04] were significantly increased compared to matched patients with degenerative mitral valve disease and similarly assessed severity of MR.ConclusionDue to a volume shift based on the MPV rather than an actual regurgitant jet, MR severity cannot be assessed adequately in MAD patients. Increased MPV induces ventricular and atrial enlargement. These findings warrant future studies to focus on MPV as an additional parameter for assessment of the severity of MR in MAD patients.
Project description:ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe the heterogeneous extension of mitral annular disjunction (MAD) and assess the hypotesis that different phenotypes of disjunction are not associated with increased surgical challenges.BackgroundMitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common end-stage scenario of degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). Few data exist on the three-dimensional extension and geometry of MAD, as well as for its role in valvular dynamic and coaptation.MethodsA total of 85 consecutive subjects, who underwent elective mitral valve repair (MVR) for MMVD at our Institution between November 2019 and October 2021, were studied retrospectively. The extension and geometry of MAD was assessed using the digitally stored volumetric datasets of real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Annular phenotypes and surgical repair techniques were analyzed.ResultsMitral annular disjunction was diagnosed in 50 out of 85 patients (59%) with Barlow disease (BD). A detailed analysis of MAD extension was conducted on 33 patients. Two pattern of disjunction were identified: a bimodal shape was highlighted in 21 patients, while a more uniform distribution of the disjuncted annulus was observed in 12 patients. The bimodal pattern was characterized by lower disjunction distance (DD) at the 140°-220° arch (3.6 ± 2.2 mm), while a more regular DD was measured in the remaining patients. All patients successfully underwent MVR. Triangular leaflet resection was performed in 58% of the cases, neochordae implantation in 9%, and notably a 27% received an isolated annuloplasty.ConclusionRather than a binary feature, MAD should be taken into account in its complex and heterogeneous morphology, where two major phenotypes can be identified. Despite its anatomical complexity, MAD was not associated with an increased surgical challenge; conversely a peculiar subgroup of patient was successfully treated with an isolated annuloplasty.
Project description:BackgroundMitral annular disjunction (MAD) is an under-recognized cause of arrhythmic sudden cardiac death, especially in young women. The relation between MAD and the occurrence of arrhythmia during pregnancy has not yet been explored. We would like to stress the importance of careful echocardiographic examination and the vulnerable peripartum period.Case summaryA 29-year-old woman survived an out of hospital cardiac arrest 4 months after delivery of her first child. The diagnosis was not clear and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) as secondary prevention was implanted. Her second pregnancy and delivery were uneventful. The 12-lead electrocardiogram demonstrated sinus rhythm with right bundle branch block, ventricular extra systoles (premature ventricular contractions), and a right superior axis, i.e. origin in the inferolateral basal left ventricle. Transthoracic 2D echocardiography showed myxomatous mitral valve disease with moderate mitral valve insufficiency with normal left and right heart dimensions and function. However, 4 weeks after delivery she experienced a sudden syncope at home. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator reading revealed primary ventricular fibrillation, induced by a ventricular premature beat (VPB), terminated with a successful ICD shock. A frame-by-frame echocardiographic analysis of the mitral valve using biplane echocardiographic analysis allowed diagnosis of MAD with detachment of the root of the annulus from the posterolateral ventricular myocardium during systole.ConclusionMitral annular disjunction is an under-recognized cause of arrhythmic sudden cardiac death. Biplane echocardiographic analysis of the mitral annulus can identify MAD and as such may help for risk stratification and sudden cardiac death prevention. Careful follow-up is necessary especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Project description:BackgroundMitral annular disjunction is the atrial displacement of the mural mitral valve leaflet hinge point within the atrioventricular junction. Said to be associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death, its prevalence in the general population is not known.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of occurrence and extent of mitral annular disjunction in a large population cohort.MethodsThe authors assessed the cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images in 2,646 Caucasian subjects enrolled in the UK Biobank imaging study, measuring the length of disjunction at 4 points around the mitral annulus, assessing for presence of prolapse or billowing of the leaflets, and for curling motion of the inferolateral left ventricular wall.ResultsFrom 2,607 included participants, the authors found disjunction in 1,990 (76%) cases, most commonly at the anterior and inferior ventricular wall. The authors found inferolateral disjunction, reported as clinically important, in 134 (5%) cases. Prolapse was more frequent in subjects with disjunction (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5; P = 0.02), with positive associations found between systolic curling and disjunction at any site (OR: 3.6; P < 0.01), and systolic curling and prolapse (OR: 71.9; P < 0.01).ConclusionsThis large-scale study shows that disjunction is a common finding when using CMR. Disjunction at the inferolateral ventricular wall, however, was rare. The authors found associations between disjunction and both prolapse and billowing of the mural mitral valve leaflet. These findings support the notion that only extensive inferolateral disjunction, when found, warrants consideration of further investigation, but disjunction elsewhere in the annulus should be considered a normal finding.
Project description:AimsWe aimed to assess the prevalence of mitral annulus disjunction (MAD) and to explore the association with aortic disease and mitral valve surgery in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) and Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS).Methods and resultsWe included consecutive MFS patients fulfilling Revised Ghent Criteria and LDS patients fulfilling Loeys-Dietz Revised Nosology. MAD was identified by echocardiography and was quantified as the longitudinal distance from the ventricular myocardium to the hinge point of the posterior mitral leaflet. Aortic events were defined as aortic dissection or prophylactic aortic surgery. We recorded the need of mitral valve surgery including mitral valve repair or replacement. We included 168 patients (103 with MFS and 65 with LDS). The prevalence of MAD was 41%. MAD was present in all age groups. Aortic events occurred in 112 (67%) patients (27 with dissections and 85 with prophylactic surgical interventions). Patients with MAD were younger at aortic event than those without MAD (log rank = 0.02) Patients with aortic events had greater MAD distance in posterolateral wall [8 (7-10) mm vs. 7 (6-8) mm, P = 0.04]. Mitral events occurred more frequently in patients with MAD (P < 0.001).ConclusionMAD was highly prevalent in patients with MFS and LDS. MAD was a marker of severe disease including aortic events at younger age and need of mitral valve surgery. Screening patients with MFS an LDS for MAD may provide prognostic information and may be relevant in planning surgical intervention. Detection of MAD in patients with MFS and LDS may infer closer clinical follow-up from younger age.