- Research
- Open Access
- Open Peer Review
Mitral annular disjunction in myxomatous mitral valve disease: a relevant abnormality recognizable by transthoracic echocardiography
https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-7120-8-53
© Carmo et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010
- Received: 18 November 2010
- Accepted: 9 December 2010
- Published: 9 December 2010
Abstract
Background
Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) consists of an altered spatial relation between the left atrial wall, the attachment of the mitral leaflets, and the top of the left ventricular (LV) free wall, manifested as a wide separation between the atrial wall-mitral valve junction and the top of the LV free wall. Originally described in association with myxomatous mitral valve disease, this abnormality was recently revisited by a surgical group that pointed its relevance for mitral valve reparability. The aims of this study were to investigate the echocardiographic prevalence of mitral annular disjunction in patients with myxomatous mitral valve disease, and to characterize the clinical profile and echocardiographic features of these patients.
Methods
We evaluated 38 patients with myxomatous mitral valve disease (mean age 57 ± 15 years; 18 females) and used standard transthoracic echocardiography for measuring the MAD. Mitral annular function, assessed by end-diastolic and end-systolic annular diameters, was compared between patients with and without MAD. We compared the incidence of arrhythmias in a subset of 21 patients studied with 24-hour Holter monitoring.
Results
MAD was present in 21 (55%) patients (mean length: 7.4 ± 8.7 mm), and was more common in women (61% vs 38% in men; p = 0.047). MAD patients more frequently presented chest pain (43% vs 12% in the absence of MAD; p = 0.07). Mitral annular function was significantly impaired in patients with MAD in whom the mitral annular diameter was paradoxically larger in systole than in diastole: the diastolic-to-systolic mitral annular diameter difference was -4,6 ± 4,7 mm in these patients vs 3,4 ± 1,1 mm in those without MAD (p < 0.001). The severity of MAD significantly correlated with the occurrence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) on Holter monitoring: MAD›8.5 mm was a strong predictor for (NSVT), (area under ROC curve = 0.74 (95% CI, 0.5-0.9); sensitivity 67%, specificity 83%). There were no differences between groups regarding functional class, severity of mitral regurgitation, LV volumes, and LV systolic function.
Conclusions
MAD is a common finding in myxomatous mitral valve disease patients, easily recognizable by transthoracic echocardiography. It is more prevalent in women and often associated with chest pain. MAD significantly disturbs mitral annular function and when severe predicts the occurrence of NSVT.
Keywords
- Mitral Valve
- Mitral Regurgitation
- Mitral Annulus
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Introduction
Schematic representation of mitral annular disjunction (arrow).
Histological section from the region of the mitral annulus showing a wide separation between the insertion of mitral valve and the left ventricular top border (arrowheads). Reproduced with permission from Hutchins GM, Moore GW, Skoog DK. "The association of floppy mitral valve with disjunction of the mitral annulus fibrosus". N Engl J Med 1986; 314: 535-540.
Parasternal long axis view of a myxomatous mitral valve showing significant disjunction of the posterior annulus.
This abnormality was forgotten until a Canadian surgical group recently stated the relevance of its recognition prior to mitral valve repair [2]. In these patients, a modification of the surgical technique seems necessary to avoid prosthetic valve replacement, and to guarantee an optimal and long-lasting result of the repair. Aside these surgical considerations, mitral annulus disjunction has received little attention, and the clinical and transthoracic echocardiographic characteristics of these patients are largely unknown.
For a long time, at our echo laboratory, we have been confronted with the recognition of this structural abnormality which we have empirically associated with distinct clinical features, namely a high incidence of arrhythmias.
The aims of our study were to determine the prevalence of echocardiographically-recognized mitral annular disjunction in patients with myxomatous valve disease, and to compare the clinical profile and echocardiographic features of patients with and without this abnormality.
Methods
Study population
For the purpose of this study, we reassessed the clinical and echocardiographic data from all patients with myxomatous mitral valve disease who underwent a transthoracic echocardiographic examination in our laboratory between July 2003 and September 2006. Myxomatous mitral valve was defined as the presence of excess leaflet tissue and leaflet thickening greater than 5 mm, resulting in a prolapse greater than 2 mm into the left atrium on parasternal long axis view [3]. Overall, 38 patients were included and there were no exclusion criteria.
Echocardiographic examination
Comprehensive two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography
All patients underwent a complete transthoracic 2D, M-mode, and Doppler examination using commercially available systems (Powervision 7000, Toshiba; Acuson Sequoia 320, Siemens; Vivid 7, General Electrics). Image acquisitions and measurements were carried out by senior echocardiographers in accordance with the European Association of Echocardiography recommendations [4]. The left ventricle was evaluated using left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters (LVEDD, LVESD), fractional shortening (FS), LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (LVEDV, LVESV), and ejection fraction (EF) from the modified biplane Simpson's method. Left atrial (LA) size was measured by M-mode. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was estimated from the tricuspid regurgitation jet peak velocity according to the modified Bernoulli equation. Mitral regurgitation (MR) severity was evaluated by colour Doppler combined with the width of the vena contracta and the calculation of the effective regurgitant orifice area by the proximal flow convergence (PISA) method whenever feasible. MR severity was graded according to the European Association of Echocardiography recommendations [5].
Detection and measurement of mitral annular disjunction and annular diameters
The length of annular disjunction was measured from the left atrial wall-mitral valve posterior leaflet junction to the top of the LV posterior wall during end-systole (Figures 1 and 3). Mitral annular function was evaluated by measuring the mitral annular diameter during end-systole and end-diastole, on a parasternal long axis view. The difference between these two measurements was considered positive whenever the end-systolic diameter was smaller than the end-diastolic diameter, as is usually seen in normal mitral valve kinetics.
24-Hour Holter monitoring
In order to evaluate the arrhythmic profile, a subset of 21 patients not submitted to mitral valve surgery was further studied with 24-hour Holter monitoring. The frequency of ventricular tachycardia was quantified by the sum of beats in ventricular tachycardia.
Statistical analysis
All data presented are shown as mean ± standard deviation or absolute number (percentage). To compare the differences between groups, we used Student's t test for continuous data and the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test for categorical data, as appropriate. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare differences between continuous non-parametric variables. The ANOVA method was used to compare differences between more than two groups. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the disjunction length that more accurately predicted the occurrence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Inter and intra-observer correlations were evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficient analysis. Statistical significance was accepted for a two-tailed P < 0.05. SPSS for Windows version 13 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Ill) and MedCalc for Windows version 9.3.8.0 (MedCalc Software, Mariakerke, Belgium) were used to perform the statistical analyses.
Results
Baseline characteristics
Baseline clinical characteristics
Variables | Total n = 38 | With Disjunction n = 21 | Without Disjunction n = 17 | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean age, years | 58 ± 15 | 60 ± 15 | 55 ± 15 | Ns |
Female sex, n(%) | 18 (47) | 13 (62) | 5 (29) | 0.047 |
Mean age at diagnosis, years | 46 ± 21 | 50 ± 19 | 41 ± 22 | Ns |
Coronary arterial disease, n(%) | 1 (3) | 1 (5) | 0 (0) | Ns |
Chronic atrial fibrillation, n(%) | 6 (16) | 3 (14) | 3 (18) | Ns |
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, n(%) | 4 (11) | 3 (14) | 1 (6) | Ns |
Stroke, n(%) | 3 (8) | 3 (14) | 0 (0) | Ns |
Endocarditis, n(%) | 2 (5) | 0 (0) | 2 (12) | Ns |
Symptomatic, n(%) | 35 (92) | 21 (100) | 14 (82) | 0.08 |
NYHA class, I/II/III/IV, n(%) | 20(53)/15(39)/3(8)/0(0) | 11(52)/8(38)/2(10)/0(0) | 9(53)/7(41)/1(6)/0(0) | Ns |
Mean NYHA class | 1.3 ± 0.9 | 1.4 ± 0.9 | 1.2 ± 1.0 | Ns |
Syncope, n(%) | 5 (13) | 2 (10) | 3 (18) | Ns |
Palpitations, n(%) | 12 (32) | 6 (29) | 6 (35) | Ns |
Chest Pain, n(%) | 11 (29) | 9 (43) | 2 (12) | 0.07 |
Mitral repair surgery only, n(%) | 4 (11) | 1 (5) | 3 (18) | Ns |
Mitral prosthesis only, n(%) | 5 (13) | 3 (14) | 2 (12) | Ns |
Mitral repair and replacement, n(%) | 2 (5) | 1 (5) | 1 (6) | ns |
Echocardiographic Parameters
Variables | Total n = 38 | With Disjunction N = 21 | Without Disjunction n = 17 | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
EDD, mm | 57 ± 9 | 56 ± 10 | 58 ± 8 | ns |
EDV, mL | 155 ± 41 | 141 ± 72 | 169 ± 48 | ns |
EF, % | 66 ± 7 | 66 ± 7 | 67 ± 7 | ns |
FS, % | 40 ± 6 | 40 ± 5 | 38 ± 6 | ns |
LA, mm | 47 ± 11 | 45 ± 10 | 49 ± 12 | ns |
PASP, mmHg | 34 ± 12 | 38 ± 7 | 30 ± 14 | ns |
MR, I, II, III, n (%) | 5 (13)/8(21)/25(66) | 2(9)/6(29)/13(62) | 3(18)/2(12)/12(70) | ns |
EROA, mm2 | 38 ± 20 | 33 ± 21 | 42 ± 19 | ns |
Mitral Annular diameter (diastolic-systolic), mm | -1.1 ± 5.4 | -4.6 ± 4.7 | 3.4 ± 1.1 | < 0.001 |
Additional file 1: Movie 1. Disjunction affecting the entire mitral annular circumference in a transoesophageal echocardiogram. (MPEG 7 MB)
Mitral annulus function
Annular diameter at end-diastole (A) and end-systole (B) in a patient with annular disjunction. There is a paradoxical increase of the diameter during systole.
Arrhythmic profile
Mean number of VT beats distributed according to quartiles of disjunction length.
Holter monitoring Profile
Variables | Total n = 21 | With Disjunction N = 21 | Without Disjunction n = 17 | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ventricular extra beats, median (interquartile range) | 113 (29; 580) | 145 (26; 955) | 102 (31; 551) | ns |
Supraventricular extra beats, median (interquartile range) | 28 (9; 198) | 27 (6; 172) | 37 (13; 622) | ns |
Beats in ventricular tachycardia, mean ± standard deviation | 3 ± 5 | 3 ± 5 | 1 ± 2 | ns |
Beats in supraventricular tachycardia, median (interquartile range) | 3 (0; 6) | 3 (0; 6) | 4 (0; 6) | ns |
Discussion
Mitral annular disjunction has been scarcely mentioned in the literature. In a paper based on a review of 900 random histological mitral annulus exams at necropsy, Hutchins et al [1] describes a wide range of normal anatomic variation for this region. These authors observed mitral annulus disjunction in 65 (7%) hearts, 23 of them in association with floppy mitral valve. This abnormality was also seen in association with isolated calcified mitral annulus, and with otherwise normal hearts. Because patients with isolated annular disjunction were younger than those with associated floppy mitral valve it was suggested that the disjunction could play a role in the pathogenesis of myxomatous valve disease, through the increased mechanical stress induced by the excessive mobility of the mitral leaflets [1].
As for our results, the prevalence of annular disjunction in the setting of myxomatous valve disease is significantly high (55%). Although impressive, this proportion is nevertheless smaller than the 92% prevalence found by Hutchins et al [1], and the 98% prevalence found by Eriksson et al [2] with transoesophageal echocardiography in patients with advanced forms of myxomatous mitral valve disease. Both the reduced sensitivity of a transthoracic examination and the use of different diagnostic criteria may account for these discrepancies.
Real-time three-dimensional (3D) and 3D reconstruction transoesophageal echocardiography affords a better accuracy in patients with complex MV pathology when compared with 2D transoesophageal echocardiography.[6, 7] The complex structure of the mitral annulus makes it particularly suited to 3D assessment. MV may be viewed from either atrial or ventricular perspectives (en face) which permit a full length view of the mitral annulus contrasting with the segmental view offered by 2D assessment. This feature can enhance the sensitivity for the detection of mitral annular disjunction. However, the image quality using transthoracic echocardiography is sometimes poor weakening its advantage.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study where the recognition of mitral annular disjunction is described by transthoracic echocardiography. On intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography, Eriksson et al described a significantly higher rate of mitral annular disjunction in patients with advanced versus mild or moderate mitral valve degeneration (98% vs 9%)[2]. In our series, there wasn't any relation between annular disjunction and other specific echocardiographic features, namely the degree of mitral valve regurgitation, atrial or ventricular enlargement and ventricular function.
Mitral annulus contractility contributes significantly to mitral valve function. Shortening of the annulus diameter during systole facilitates coaptation of the mitral leaflets [8–10]. Impairment of mitral annulus function is known to be associated with mitral regurgitation associated with myxomatous mitral valve disease, and has recently been implicated as a cause for valve repair failure [10, 11].
In the presence of annular disjunction, the valve insertion in the "atrial wall" is responsible for an increased diameter of the mitral valve circumference during systole, and hence impaired annular function due to coaptation deficit. Underestimating this abnormality during mitral valve repair can result in recurrent mitral regurgitation, since paradoxical systolic enlargement will persist [2].
The risk of sudden death is increased in patients with mitral regurgitation due to myxomatous mitral valve disease. Prior to surgery, the incidence of sudden death is 1.8% per year, accounting for one-fourth of the causes of death. Patients with severe symptoms, atrial fibrillation, and reduced LV systolic function are at higher risk. However, even asymptomatic patients in sinus rhythm with normal LV function are not exempt of risk, which occurs with an incidence of 0.8% per year [12–15]. Increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias in myxomatous mitral valve disease may result from abnormal excessive traction on papillary muscles, generated by the parachuting closure of the mitral valve [16]. As proposed by Hutchins et al, the annular disjunction may, for itself, increase the tension over the mitral apparatus [1]. This mechanism could hypothetically predispose to ventricular arrhythmias. In our study, despite the absence of sustained ventricular arrhythmias, there was an increased frequency of ventricular extra beats and of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with greater lengths of annular disjunction.
The limitations of this study are its retrospective nature, the rather small population, and the performance of 24-hour Holter monitoring in a limited subset of patients. Larger and prospective studies are needed to validate our findings. Nevertheless, the novelty of the subject and the implications for both surgical management and for arrhythmic events remain of paramount importance.
Conclusions
Mitral annular disjunction is a common finding in patients with myxomatous mitral valve disease, easily detected and measured by transthoracic echocardiography.
We found an association between this abnormality and several clinical features namely chest pain, annular contractile dysfunction, and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in cases of wider magnitude of the disjunction. It proved to be relevant for the success of mitral valve repair.
Further and larger studies are needed to completely understand the clinical implications of annular disjunction, particularly its association with malignant arrhythmic events.
Abbreviations
- MAD:
-
Mitral annular disjunction
- LV:
-
Left ventricular
- NSVT:
-
Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia
Declarations
Authors’ Affiliations
References
- Hutchins GM, Moore GW, Skoog DK: The association of floppy mitral valve with disjunction of the mitral annulus. N Engl J Med. 1986, 314: 535-540. 10.1056/NEJM198602273140902.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Eriksson MJ, Bitkover CY, Omran AS, David T, David TE, Ivanov J, Ali MJ, Woo A, Siu SC, Rakowski H: Mitral annular disjunction in advanced myxomatous mitral valve disease: Echocardiographic detection and surgical correction. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2005, 18: 1014-1022. 10.1016/j.echo.2005.06.013.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Playford D, Weyman AE: Mitral valve prolapse: time for fresh look. Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2001, 2: 73-81.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lang RM, Bierig M, Devereux RB, Flachskampf FA, Foster E, Pellikka PA, Picard MH, Roman MJ, Seward J, Shanewise JS, Solomon SD, Spencer KT, Sutton MS, Stewart WJ: Recommendations for chamber quantification: A report from the ASE's guidelines and standards committee and the chamber quantification writing group, developed in conjunction with the ESE, a branch of the ESC. Eur J Echocardiogr. 2006, 7: 79-108. 10.1016/j.euje.2005.12.014.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lancellotti P, Moura L, Pierard LA, Agricola E, Popescu BA, Tribouilloy C, Hagendorff A, Monin JL, Badano L, Zamorano JL: European Association of Echocardiography recommendations for the assessment of valvular regurgitation. Part 2: mitral and tricuspid regurgitation (native valve disease). Eur J Echocardiogr. 2010, 11: 307-332. 10.1093/ejechocard/jeq031.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Garcia-Orta R, Moreno E, Vidal M, Ruiz-López F, Oyonarte JM, Lara J, Moreno T, García-Fernándezd MA, Azpitarte J: Three-dimensional versus two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in mitral valve repair. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2007, 20: 4-12. 10.1016/j.echo.2006.07.005.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Macnab A, Jenkins NP, Bridgewater BJ, Hooper TL, Greenhalgh DL, Patrick MR, Ray SG: Three dimensional echocardiography is superior to multiplane transoesophageal echo in the assessment of regurgitant mitral valve morphology. Eur J Echocardiogr. 2004, 5: 212-222. 10.1016/j.euje.2004.01.005.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Ormiston J, Shah P, Tei C, Wong M: Size and motion of the mitral valve annulus in man. II. Abnormalities in mitral valve prolapsed. Circulation. 1982, 65: 713-719.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Kaplan SR, Bashein G, Sheehan FH, Legget ME, Munt B, Li XN, Sivarajan M, Bolson EL, Zepp M, Arch MZ, Martin RW: Three-dimensional echocardiography assessment of annular shape changes in the normal and regurgitant mitral valve. Am Heart J. 2000, 139 (3): 378-387. 10.1016/S0002-8703(00)90077-2.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Grewal J, Suri R, Mankad S, Tanaka A, Mahoney DW, Schaff HV, Miller FA, Enriquez-Sarano M: Mitral annular dynamics in myxomatous valve disease: new insights with real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography. Circulation. 2010, 121 (12): 1423-1431. 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.901181.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Newcomb A, David TE, Lad VS, Bobiarski J, Armstrong S, Maganti M: Mitral valve repair for advanced myxomatous degeneration with posterior displacement of the mitral annulus. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008, 136: 1503-1509. 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2008.05.059.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Kligfield P, Levy D, Devereux RB, Savage DD: Arrhythmias and sudden death in mitral valve prolapse. Am Heart J. 1987, 113: 1298-307. 10.1016/0002-8703(87)90958-6.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Duren DR, Becker AE, Dunning AJ: Long-term follow-up of idiopathic mitral valve prolapse in 300 patients: A prospective study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1988, 11: 42-47. 10.1016/0735-1097(88)90164-7.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Grigioni F, Enriquez-Sarano M, Ling LH, Bailey KR, Seward JB, Tajik AJ, Frye RL: Sudden death in mitral regurgitation due to flail leaflet. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999, 34: 2078-85. 10.1016/S0735-1097(99)00474-X.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Vohra J, Sathe S, Warren R, Tatoulis J, Hunt D: Malignant ventricular arrhythmias in patients with mitral valve prolapse and mild mitral regurgitation. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1993, 16: 387-393. 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1993.tb01599.x.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Farb A, Tang AL, Atkinson JB, McCarthy WF, Virmani R: Comparison of cardiac findings in patients with mitral valve prolapse who die suddenly to those who have congestive heart failure from mitral regurgitation and to those with fatal noncardiac conditions. Am J Cardiol. 1992, 70: 234-39. 10.1016/0002-9149(92)91281-8.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Copyright
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (<url>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0</url>), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
