Net atrioventricular compliance can predict persistent pulmonary artery hypertension after percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS). Patients with similar mitral valve (MV) areas may have different pulmonary artery pressures. Net atrioventricular compliance (Cn) was found to play an important role in the development of pulmonary hypertension.

AIM: To test the value of Cn in predicting persistent pulmonary artery hypertension (PPAH) after percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy (PMBC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients with severe MS, suitable for PMBC were included in the study. We excluded patients with contraindication to PMBC, atrial fibrillation, failure of PMBC, and restenosis. All patients had undergone electrocardiography, echocardiography with measurement of MV area, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP), and Cn, PMBC, and follow-up echocardiography.

RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups: Group I: Cn < 4.2 mL/mmHg (36 patients), Group II: Cn ≥ 4.2 mL/mmHg (44 patients). Group I patients had significantly higher SPAP, and significantly lower SPAP reduction. Sensitivity of Cn < 4.2 mL/mmHg in prediction of PPAH was 88.9%, specificity was 88.6%, and accuracy was 88.8%. Independent predictors for PPAH were baseline Cn (p = 0.0027), and Cn improvement after PMBC (p = 0.0085). There was a significant negative correlation between Cn and baseline SPAP (r = -0.349, p = 0.0015), and a significant positive correlation between Cn and percent SPAP reduction (r = 0.617, p < 0.00001).

CONCLUSION: Measuring Cn can predict PPAH in MS patients after PMBC. It also may add value in evaluating MS patients undergoing PMBC and may help in predicting their prognosis.