Improvement in atrial functional and ventricular functional tricuspid regurgitation following catheter ablation or cardioversion of atrial fibrillation

Abstract Background The majority of cases of significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) are secondary to tricuspid annular dilation and leaflet tethering in the context of RV remodeling due to pressure or volume overload, as seen in patients with pulmonary hypertension (primary or secondary to left-sided heart disease) or dilated cardiomyopathies. Secondary TR induced by tricuspid valve annular dilatation secondary to right atrial dilatation is referred to as atrial functional TR, while secondary TR caused by RV remodeling is referred to as ventricular functional TR. In current guidelines, GDMT (Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy) is effective for secondary TR attributable to HF with reduced LVEF. Normal sinus rhythm should be restored for secondary TR caused by AF-related annular dilatation. In patients with ventricular functional TR, however, AF may also accompany the clinical condition. It is unknown whether restoring sinus rhythm will reduce tricuspid regurgitation in these patients. Purpose The objective of this study was to investigate the degree of tricuspid regurgitation change in patients with atrial and ventricular functional tricuspid regurgitation after sinus rhythm restoration. Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing AF ablation and cardioversion at a single center between 2019 and 2023 was performed. Patients with at least grade 1 TR on echocardiography and a baseline echocardiogram and a follow-up echocardiogram after ablation were included. A-FTR and V-FTR were defined according to the latest ACC/AHA guidelines. According to the latest guidelines, patients with mild to severe FTR were classified as A-FTR if they had atrial fibrillation, left ventricular ejection fraction 60%, pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) 50 mm Hg, no left-sided valve disease, and normal-appearing tricuspid leaflets. FTR patients who did not meet at least one of these three criteria were defined as ventricular FTR (V-FTR). Results A total of 88 patients were enrolled. The prevalence of A-FTR in our cohort was 62% (53 patients), and 38% of the patients were in the V-FTR group. There was no significant difference between the A-FTR and V-FTR groups regarding age, gender, and NYHA class. 21 of the patients underwent DCCV, and 67 underwent catheter ablation. The prevalence of severe FTR was similar (%17 in A-FTR vs. %8,6 in V-FTR, p= 0.205). There was no difference in preintervention TR grade between the two groups. TR severity improved significantly from baseline to follow-up in both V-FTR and A-FTR patients. These outcomes were observed in patients who underwent both DCCV and catheter ablation. Conclusion The degree of tricuspid regurgitation is reduced with sinus rhythm restoration in patients with both ventricular functional and atrial functional TR.Changes in TR severity with interventionGraph of changes in severity of TR