Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with a dismal prognosis in Transcatheter Aortic Valve replacement (TAVR). Acute kidney recovery (AKR), a phenomenon reverse to AKI has recently been associated with better outcomes.
Methods: Between November 2012 to May 2018, we explored consecutive patients referred to our Heart Valve Center for TAVR. AKI was defined according to the VARC-2 definition. Mirroring the VARC-2 definition of AKI, AKR was defined as a decrease in serum creatinine (≥50%) or ≥25% improvement in GFR up to 72 hours after TAVR.
Results: AKI and AKR were respectively observed in 8.3 and 15.7% of the 574 patients included. AKI and AKR patients were associated to more advanced kidney disease at baseline. At a median follow-up of 608 days (range 355-893), AKI and AKR patients experienced an increased cardiovascular mortality compared to unchanged renal function patients (14.6% and 17.8% respectively, vs. 8.1%, CI 95%, p<0.022). Chronic kidney disease, (HR: 3.9; 95% CI 1.7-9.2; p < 0.001) was the strongest independent factor associated with AKI similarly to baseline creatinine level (HR: 1; 95% CI 1 to 1.1 p < 0.001) for AKR. 72-hours post procedural AKR (HR: 2.26; 95% CI 1.14 to 4.88; p = 0.021) was the strongest independent predictor of CV mortality.
Conclusions: Both AKR and AKI negatively impact long term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing TAVR.