Change in Coronary Microcirculation and FFR After TAVI in Patients With Cardiovascular Comorbidities

Change in coronary microcirculation and Fractional Flow Reserve after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease and severe aortic stenosis. Severe aortic stenosis is the most common indication of valvular replacement in developed countries. Stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequently associated with severe aortic stenosis in patients treated by Transcatheter Aortic Valvular Implantation (TAVI). Its prognostic impact is not clearly established, and available studies uncommonly used functional assessment of severity from a coronary stenosis to stratify the risk in this situation. Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is recommended to guide revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in clinical practice. Its use is not validated in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Left ventricular hypertrophy induced by aortic obstruction leading to microvascular disorders, and can alter coronary reserve, possibly biasing FFR values. After aortic valvular replacement, a myocardial reverse remodeling is described, generating a decrease in hypertrophy, interstitial oedema, and inflammation. Its effect on coronary microcirculatory reserve is not known. Some studies have shown improvement in coronary reserve immediately after TAVI and this effect seemed to last long after treatment. The aim of the study is to assess the effects of inverse myocardial remodeling on coronary microcirculatory function and its association with FFR values before and after TAVI.