Paravalvular Mitral Regurgitation Protecting from Thrombus Formation on Prosthetic Mitral Valve

Protective effect of a significant mitral regurgitation (MR) from thrombus (THR) formatian in the le ft atrium (LA) is well documented. But inte raction between paravalvular (PV) MR and THR formation on presthetic mitral valves (PMY) has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the elinical and echocardiographic characteristics of patients with PMYTHR, and to assess whether or not PVMR protects PMY agai nts THR. Study population coınprised 265 patients (F 143, M 122, mean age 43.4±24.9) who underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TTE, TEE) for the follow- up of PMY evaluation. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was present in 157 patients (59.%). Presthetic valve THR, PVMR (~2), LATHR and spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) were diagnosed in 43 (16.3%), 22 (8.3%), 28 (l 0.6%) and 98 (37%) patients, respectively. Age, gender, duration between valve replacement and TEE, mechanical valve types, rhythm, diameter of LA, fractional area change of LA appendage (LAA), inward and outward velocities of LAA were not found to be significantly different between patients with and without PMYTHR (group A and B), respectively (p>0.05). However, frequency of biTiirk Kardiyol Dem Arş 1999; 27:384-388 oprosthetic valve (0 vs 15.3%, pKeywords: Mitral regurgitation, presthetic valve, thronıbus