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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a frequent comorbidity of aortic valve stenosis (AVS). Circulating chaperones have emerged as both effectors and prognostic markers for various diseases. We investigated the role of circulating chaperones in patients with severe AVS undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). In this observational cohort study, 159 consecutive patients undergoing TAVR were included and serum levels of Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) were measured by ELISA. The primary end point was defined as 1-year mortality. Patients with lower levels of circulating GRP78 (<1347 ng/mL) had an increased 1-year mortality rate compared to patients with higher levels of GRP78 (25.0% vs 10.3%, P = 0.026). GRP78 was associated with lower 1-year mortality in a univariate analysis (HR 0.354, P = 0.047). After adjusting for age, sex, several comorbidities and biomarkers, GRP78 (HR 0.295, P = 0.024) and CKD (HR 2.809, P = 0.044) remained independent predictors of the primary end point of 1-year mortality in a multivariate analysis. Patients with concomitant CKD had significantly higher levels of HSP27 compared to patients without CKD (1690 pg/mL vs 1076 pg/mL, P = 0.0109). In patients with CKD, elevated HSP27 was identified as a protective marker (1-year mortality: 9.6% vs 31.4%, log-rank P = 0.0166). Using cut-off values for GRP78 and HSP27 we were able to stratify patients with CKD undergoing TAVR into 4 groups with distinct mortality rates (50% vs 22.2% vs 24% vs 7.9%, log-rank P = 0.0170). GRP78 is an overall predictor of mortality after TAVR, while the combination of GRP78 and HSP27 helps to predict mortality in patients with CKD receiving TAVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess acute regurgitation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement, comparing different implanted transcatheter heart valves. Regurgitation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement influences all-cause mortality. Thus far, no quantitative comparison of regurgitation among multiple commercially available transcatheter heart valves has been performed. Aortograms from a multicenter cohort of consecutive 3,976 transcatheter aortic valve replacements were evaluated in this pooled analysis. A total of 2,258 (58.3%) were considered analyzable by an independent academic core laboratory using video densitometry. Results of quantitative regurgitation are shown as percentages. The valves evaluated were the ACURATE (n = 115), Centera (n = 11), CoreValve (n = 532), Direct Flow Medical (n = 21), Evolut PRO (n = 95), Evolut R (n = 295), Inovare (n = 4), Lotus (n = 546), Lotus Edge (n = 3), SAPIEN XT (n = 239), and SAPIEN 3 (n = 397). For the main analysis, only valves with more than 50 procedures (7 types) were used. The Lotus valve had the lowest mean regurgitation (3.5 ± 4.4%), followed by Evolut PRO (7.4 ± 6.5%), SAPIEN 3 (7.6 ± 7.1%), Evolut R (7.9 ± 7.4%), SAPIEN XT (8.8 ± 7.5%), ACURATE (9.6 ± 9.2%) and CoreValve (13.7 ± 10.7%) (analysis of variance p < 0.001). The only valves that statistically differed from all their counterparts were Lotus (as the lowest regurgitation) and CoreValve (the highest). The proportion of patients presenting with moderate or severe regurgitation followed the same ranking order: Lotus (2.2%), Evolut PRO (5.3%), SAPIEN 3 (8.3%), Evolut R (8.8%), SAPIEN XT (10.9%), ACURATE (11.3%), and CoreValve (30.1%) (chi-square p < 0.001). In this pooled analysis stemming from daily clinical practice, the Lotus valve was shown to have the best immediate sealing. This analysis reflects the objective evaluation of regurgitation by an academic core laboratory (nonsponsored) in a real-world cohort of patients using a quantitative technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Left atrial appendage closure is an established therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. Although device-related thrombosis (DRT) is relatively rare, it is potentially linked to adverse events. As data on DRT characteristics, outcome, and treatment regimen are scarce, we aimed to assess these questions in a multicenter approach. Methods: One hundred fifty-six patients with the diagnosis of DRT after left atrial appendage closure were included in the multinational EUROC-DRT registry. Baseline characteristics included clinical and echocardiographic data. After inclusion, all patients underwent further clinical and echocardiographic follow-up to assess DRT dynamics, treatment success, and outcome. Results: DRT was detected after a median of 93 days (interquartile range, 54–161 days) with 17.9% being detected >6 months after left atrial appendage closure. Patients with DRT were at high ischemic and bleeding risk (CHA2DS2-VASc 4.5±1.7, HAS-BLED 3.3±1.2) and had nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (67.3%), previous stroke (53.8%), and spontaneous echo contrast (50.6%). The initial treatment regimens showed comparable resolution rates (antiplatelet monotherapy: 57.1%, dual antiplatelet therapy: 85.7%, vitamin K antagonists: 80.0%, novel oral anticoagulants: 75.0%, and heparin: 68.6%). After intensification or switch of treatment, complete DRT resolution was achieved in 79.5% of patients. Two-year follow-up revealed a high risk of mortality (20.0%) and ischemic stroke (13.8%) in patients with DRT. Patients with incomplete DRT resolution showed numerically higher stroke rates and increased mortality rates (stroke: 17.6% versus 12.3%, P =0.29; mortality: 31.3% versus 13.1%, P =0.05). Conclusions: A substantial proportion of DRT is detected >6 months after left atrial appendage closure, highlighting the need for imaging follow-up. Patients with DRT appear to be at a high risk for stroke and mortality. While DRT resolution was achieved in most patients, incomplete DRT resolution appeared to identify patients at even higher risk. Optimal DRT diagnostic criteria and treatment regimens are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]