Key result
Hypoattenuating leaflet thickening post-TAVR is mostly asymptomatic, resolves with anticoagulation, and currently lacks data linking it to adverse clinical outcomes.
Why the study?
As TAVR expands to low-risk patients, transcatheter heart valve durability and the mechanisms underlying structural valve degeneration are increasingly important, prompting an updated review on hypoattenuating leaflet thickening and structural valve degeneration.
This review highlights that hypoattenuating leaflet thickening (HALT) post-TAVR is typically asymptomatic, resolves with anticoagulation, and currently lacks evidence of association with adverse clinical outcomes, though its impact on long-term structural valve degeneration remains an area of active investigation.
HALT after TAVR is often asymptomatic; leaves open questions on routine screening and antithrombotic management.
The treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis has undergone a paradigm shift over the last decade, paralleling the publication of several landmark trials showing efficacy and safety of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as compared to traditional open surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) across multiple risk strata. Hypoattenuating leaflet thickening (HALT) is a phenomenon that has been increasingly recognized since 2013. Patients with HALT are most often asymptomatic, have increased transvalvular gradients infrequently, and have overt prosthetic valve thrombosis rarely. HALT develops despite established post-procedure antiplatelet regimens and, in many cases, resolves completely on commencing anticoagulation. There is currently no data to suggest that this incidental imaging finding is associated with adverse clinical outcomes and therefore no current recommendation to perform routine post-TAVR computed tomography. Meanwhile, the use of TAVR is poised to expand into low-risk patients which means that transcatheter heart valve (THV) durability is going to be an increasingly important issue. While we await long-term data from the low-risk TAVR trials to better assess THV durability in this cohort, recent attention has focused on the mechanisms underlying structural valve degeneration (SVD). This review aims to provide an update on HALT and the definition of SVD and how the two entities may impact each other as the field advances.ABBREVIATIONS: AS: aortic stenosis; BAV: bicuspid aortic valve; CT: computed tomography; DAPT: dual antiplatelet therapy; DVI: Doppler velocity index; EOAi: effective orifice area index; HALT: hypoattenuating leaflet thickening; HAM: hypoattenuation affecting motion; MACCE: major adverse cardiovascular or cerebral event; MG: mean gradient; MPR: multiplanar reconstruction/reformat; OAC: oral anticoagulation therapy; PHV: prosthetic heart valve; RLM/RELM: reduced leaflet motion; SAVR: surgical aortic valve replacement; SAPT: single antiplatelet therapy; SCCT: Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography; SVD: structural valve degeneration; TAVR: transcatheter aortic valve replacement; TEE: transesophageal echocardiography; THV: transcatheter heart valve; TIA: transient ischemic attack; TTE: transthoracic echocardiography; VIVID: Valve in Valve International Data
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Brown et al. (2020) conducted a review in Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Hypoattenuating leaflet thickening (HALT) post-TAVR was evaluated. Hypoattenuating leaflet thickening post-TAVR is mostly asymptomatic, resolves with anticoagulation, and currently lacks data linking it to adverse clinical outcomes.
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