Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Clinical outcomes of catheter ablation vs transcatheter edge-to-edge repair as the initial intervention strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation and functional mitral regurgitation
- single-center retrospective analysis
Authors' conclusion
M-TEER was associated with greater MR reduction, while AF ablation was associated with more favorable clinical outcomes. These findings likely reflect stage-dependent management rather than treatment superiority and require confirmation in prospective studies.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and moderate to moderate-to-severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR)patients included · M-TEER 129 · AF ablation 152
- Participants
- 281 patients
- Exposure
- comparing catheter ablation and M-TEER as initial strategies
- AF ablationn = 152
- M-TEERn = 129
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
MR severity improvement · 2-year follow-up
Mitral regurgitation (MR) severity improved more frequently after M-TEER
P < .001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Symptom stability · 2-year follow-up
All-cause mortality · 2-year follow-up
| Outcome | AF ablation | M-TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Left ventricular ejection fraction · follow-up | 53% ± 11.1% | 47% ± 13.9% |
- Symptom stability: P < .001
- All-cause mortality: P = .002
- Left ventricular ejection fraction: P < .001
All-cause cardiac hospitalizations · 2-year follow-up
- less all-cause cardiac hospitalizations with AF ablation
- P = 0.019
Original publication
Clinical outcomes of catheter ablation vs transcatheter edge-to-edge repair as the initial intervention strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation and functional mitral regurgitation. Heart Rhythm. Published 24 August 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.08.028
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it