Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of the study group
| Mean (SD) or median (Q1–Q3) or No. (%) | |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | 62 ± 15 |
| Female/Male | 10 (32%) / 21 (68%) |
| Diabetes | 6 (19%) |
| Dyslipidemia | 25 (80%) |
| Hypertension | 20 (64%) |
| Smoker or ex-smoker | 10 (32%) |
| Prior myocardial infarction | 4 (13%) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 27.1 ± 4.1 |
| Obesity | 7 (22%) |
| Chronic kidney disease | 14 (45%) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 11 (35%) |
| NYHA class | |
| II | 22 (71%) |
| III | 9 (29%) |
| CCS class | |
| I | 28 (90%) |
| II | 3 (9%) |
| Lab tests | |
| NT-proBNP (pg/ml) | 1180 (324–3310) |
| NT-proBNP > 150 pg/ml | 28 (90%) |
| LDH (U/l) | 319 (246–483) |
| Haemolysis1 | 8 (25%) |
| Cardiac surgery | |
| Coronary artery bypass grafting | 6 (19%) |
| Time since the surgery (years) | 3.6 (2–34) |
| AVR—PVL | 23 (75%) |
| MVR—PVL | 8 (25%) |
| Paravalvular leaks and left ventricle remodeling | |
| Echocardiography | |
| Multiple leaks | 7 (23%) |
| VC (mm)—major leak | 4.9 ± 1.9 |
| Leaks circumference (%) | 17 ± 9 |
| Cardiovascular magnetic resonance | |
| PVL volume (ml) | 44 ± 28 |
| PVL regurgitant fraction (%) | 36 ± 13 |
| End diastolic volume (ml) | 216 ± 112 |
| Ejection fraction < 50% | 5 (16%) |
| Ejection fraction (%) | 56.5 ± 14 |
| Mass (g) | 177 ± 63 |
AVR aortic valve replacement, CCS Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Score, LDH Lactate Dehydrogenase, MVR mitral valve replacement, NT-proBNP N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, PVL paravalvular leak, VC vena contracta
1Haemolysis defined as serum Lactate Dehydrogenase > 460 U/L and the following: haemoglobin < 13.8 g/dL for males or < 12.4 g/dL for females and reticulocyte count > 2%