A prospective study examining the role of myocardial Fibrosis in outcome following mitral valve repair IN DEgenerative mitral Regurgitation: rationale and design of the mitral FINDER study.

Background: The optimal management of chronic severe primary degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) is to repair the valve but identification of the optimal timing of surgery remains challenging. Current guidelines suggest 'watchful waiting' until the onset of symptoms or left ventricular (LV) dysfunction but these have been challenged as promoting 'rescue surgery'. Better predictors are required to inform decision-making in relation to the necessity and timing of surgery.