Trial Finds that Interventional Closure of Residual Atrial Septal Defect One-Month Post Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Was Not Superior to Medical Treatment

Newswise — NEW YORK – October 15, 2020 – The MITHRAS randomized clinical trial found that interventional closure of an iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) driven by transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) was not superior to conservative medical treatment with regard to the primary endpoint of change in six-minute walking distance.

Findings were reported today at TCT Connect, the 32^nd annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF). TCT is the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. The study was also published simultaneously in Circulation.

TMVR requires transseptal access to the left atrium, which creates an iASD that remains with detectable shunting across the intra-atrial septum. While the induction of an iASD has been linked to improved hemodynamics in specific heart failure populations and is currently being investigated in large-scale clinical trials in patients with heart failure, the presence of a persistent iASD is also associated with increased long-term mortality and morbidity following TMVR.

The MITHRAS trial investigated whether the closure of a TMVR induced iASD is superior to medical therapy alone. In this prospective, randomized, single-center trial, patients with a persistent iASD one month following TMVR and relevant left-to-right shunting (Qp:Qs ≥1.3) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to standard medical therapy alone or closure of the iASD using the Occlutech ASD occluder. The primary endpoint was change in 6-minute walk distance five months after iASD occlusion. Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality and rate of heart failure hospitalization at one year.

Between January 2016 and October 2019, a total of 80 patients were enrolled. All patients underwent TMVR with 95% using the MitraClip device one month prior to enrollment and were diagnosed with an iASD with relevant left-to-right shunting on transesophageal echocardiography. Overall, 40 patients were randomized into the iASD closure group and 40 patients into the medical therapy only group. There were no differences observed in change in the primary endpoint of six-minute walking distance or any of the prespecified secondary endpoints at five months between groups.

“Interventional closure of iASD one-month post transcatheter mitral valve repair was not superior to conservative treatment with regard to the primary endpoint six-minute walking distance,” said Philipp Lurz, MD, PhD, Deputy Head of the Cardiology Department at Heart Center Leipzig at the University of Leipzig, Germany. “The results are corroborated by no difference in secondary endpoints such as heart failure symptoms or hospitalization and survival. The presence of an iASD is associated with a higher rate of HF hospitalization irrespective of its management when compared to patients without relevant iASD following TMVR. The presence of an iASD following transcatheter mitral valve interventions might be a prognostically relevant surrogate, but not necessarily causative for inferior outcomes.”

The MITHRAS trial was funded by an institutional grant from Occlutech. Dr. Lurz reported the following disclosures: institutional grant/research support from ReCor, Occlutech, Edwards Lifesciences and consulting fees to institution from Abbott, ReCor, Occlutech, Edwards Lifesciences, and Medtronic.

About CRF

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations specializing in interventional cardiology innovation, research, and education. CRF is dedicated to helping doctors improve survival and quality of life for people suffering from heart and vascular disease. For nearly 30 years, CRF has helped pioneer medical advances and educated doctors on the latest treatments for heart disease. CRF is comprised of the CRF Skirball Center for Innovation, CRF Clinical Trials Center, CRF Center for Education, CRF Digital, TCTMD, and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team.

Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) is the annual scientific symposium of CRF and the premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Now in its 32^nd year, TCT features major medical research breakthroughs and gathers leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to present and discuss the latest evidence-based research in the field.

For more information, visit www.crf.org and www.tctconference.com.

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