Introduction
Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is one of the most challenging
complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and chronic coronary
artery disease (CAD). The presence of IMR, irrespective of severity
significantly have a negative impact on the short and long-term outcomes
of patients with AMI and CAD. Nearly 25% of patients with AMI without
congestive heart failure (CHF) develop IMR and this number approaches
50% when CHF is present. IMR occurs in approximately 20—25% of
patients followed up after myocardial infarction (MI)[1—3] and in 50% of those with post-infarct
congestive heart failure (CHF) [4]. In patients
with CHF, even a mild degree of mitral regurgitation (MR) adversely
affects survival. Increasing MR severity is associated with a
progressively worse 5-year survival rate [1, 4].
This review is a concise overview of IMR and we will attempt to focus on
the fundamentals of IMR and potential treatments for this challenging
disease state.