Dynamic phenotypes of degenerative myxomatous mitral valve disease : quantitative 3-dimensional echocardiographic study

Background—Fibro-elastic deficiency (FED) and diffuse myxomatous degeneration (DMD) are phenotypes of degenerative mitral valve disease defined morphologically. Whether physiological differences in annular and valvular dynamics exist between these phenotypes remains unknown. Methods and Results—We performed triple quantitation of cardiac remodeling and of mitral regurgitation severity and of annular and valvular dimensions by real-time 3-dimensional-transesophageal-echocardiography. Forty-nine patients with degenerative mitral valve disease classified as FED (n=31) and DMD (n=18) by surgical observation showed no difference in age (65±10 versus 59±13; P=0.5), body surface area (2.0±0.2 versus 2.0±0.2 m2; P=0.5), left ventricular and atrial dimensions (all P>0.55), and mitral regurgitation regurgitant orifice (P=0.62). On average, annular dimensions were larger in DMD versus FED, but height was similar resulting in lower saddle shape. Dynamically, annular DMD versus FED display poorer contraction and saddle-shape accentuation in early systole and abnormal enlargement, particularly intercommissural, in late-systole (all P<0.05). Valvular dynamics showed stable valvular area in systole in FED versus considerable systolic increased area in DMD (P<0.001). Prolapse height and volume increased little throughout systole in FED versus marked increase in DMD (P