Post-cardiac injury syndrome after transcatheter mitral valve repair using MitraClip system: a case report

BACKGROUND : Post-cardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is an inflammatory process that may occur after myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, percutaneous cardiac interventions or chest trauma. To our knowledge, PCIS following transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) using the MitraClip system has not been reported. CASE SUMMARY : A 79-year-old female with chronic heart failure and severe mitral regurgitation received TMVr using the MitraClip system. After the procedure she developed elevated inflammatory markers, pericardial and pleural effusion. Cardiac magnetic resonance provided signs of pericardial and pleural inflammation. After initiating an anti-inflammatory therapy with Aspirin and Colchicine, inflammatory markers decreased markedly, pleural and pericardial effusions were regressive, and the patient showed rapid clinical improvement. DISCUSSION : Post-cardiac injury syndrome may occur after TMVr and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients developing chest pain, signs of pericarditis with or without pericardial effusion and elevated inflammatory markers.