MITRAL RESTENOSIS AND MITRAL REGURGITATION 1-YEAR AFTER INOUE MITRAL BALLOON VALVOTOMY IN A POPULATION OF PATIENTS WITH PLIABLE MITRAL-VALVE-STENOSIS

To determine the rate of mitral restenosis and mitral regurgitation in crease 1 year after mitral valvotomy using the Inoue balloon catheter, 66 consecutive patients with severe, pliable mitral stenosis had thei r mitral valve area (MVA) calculated by two-dimensional echocardiograp hy (2DE) and Doppler before, immediately after balloon valvotomy, and at 1-year follow-up. Color Doppler studies were also done to detect sm all atrial septal defects (ASDs) and mitral regurgitation. The mean ag e of the patients was 31 +/- 12 years. Three patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and 63 patients were in NYHA class III to IV. Sixty-two of the 66 patients had an echo score (Boston) of less-than-or-equal-to 8. After Inoue balloon valvotomy (IBV), the MVA (2DE) increased from 0.8 +/- 0.2 to 1.9 +/- 0.3 cm2 (p < 0.001), and t he Doppler MVA increased from 0.8 +/- 0.2 to 1.8 +/- 0.3 cm2 (p < 0.00 1). We detected 4 of 66 cases (6%) with significant residual mitral st enosis (MVA <1.5 cm2). Mitral regurgitation increased in 14 of 66 pati ents (21%), but no patient developed severe mitral regurgitation. Four teen out of 66 patients (20%) had ASDs that were detected on color Dop pler. At 1-year follow-up the mean Doppler MVA was maintained at 1.8 /- 0.4 cm2, with 6 of 66 patients (9%) exhibiting significant mitral v alve restenosis. Residual significant mitral stenosis must be differen tiated from mitral restenosis. The degree of mitral regurgitation was unchanged in 59 of 66 patients (90%); it increased in 5 of 66 patients (8%), being severe in 3 of 66 patients (5%), and decreased in 2 of 66 patients (2%). ASDs closed spontaneously in 9 of 14 patients (64%). A t 1 year after Inoue mitral balloon valvotomy in a population of patie nts with severe pliable mitral valve stenosis, mitral restenosis and t he onset of severe mitral regurgitation jeopardized the initial favora ble results in 14% of patients.