Histopathological maladaptive changes in the explanted human mitral leaflets correlate with changes in echocardiographic leaflet morphology and the severity of ischaemic mitral regurgitation.

Aims: Several changes of the mitral valve (MV) morphology have been previously documented in ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) upon macro and microscopic examination. This study aimed to correlate echocardiographic MV thickening with IMR severity and to delineate the histopathological basis of valve thickening from the explanted leaflets.

Methods And Results: Two hundred and fifty patients were included in the echo-group; of these, 48 patients (19.