BACKGROUND: Hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) detected on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is considered leaflet thrombosis. However, its impact on long-term clinical outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of early HALT detection after TAVI on long-term clinical outcomes and structural valve deterioration beyond 6 years.

METHODS: Of the 672 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI between 2013 and 2018, 448 were treated with either SAPIEN XT or SAPIEN 3 and underwent MDCT analysis within 30 days after TAVI. MDCT results and echocardiographic data were analyzed annually.

RESULTS: HALT was detected in 68 (15.2%) of 448 eligible patients within 30 days after TAVI. No significant difference in effective orifice area was observed by echocardiography within 30 days after TAVI between the HALT and the non-HALT groups in SAPIEN XT (HALT vs. non-HALT: 1.62 ± 0.66 cm² vs. 1.72 ± 0.43 cm²; p = 0.26) and in SAPIEN 3 (1.42 ± 0.35 cm² vs. 1.45 ± 0.34 cm²; p = 0.63). No significant differences in all-cause mortality (52.9% vs. 60.0%; hazard ratio (HR): 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83-1.70; p = 0.3), stroke incidence (5.9% vs. 7.1%; HR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.08-13.7; p = 0.97), heart failure rehospitalization (10.3% vs. 15.0%; HR: 2.3; 95% CI: 0.89-5.99; p = 0.09), and structural valve deterioration (14.7% vs. 17.9%; HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.45-1.73; p = 0.73) were observed between the HALT and the non-HALT groups during the median follow-up of 1872 (interquartile range; 1203-2468) days.

CONCLUSIONS: HALT within 30 days was not associated with clinical outcomes or hemodynamic performance during long-term follow-up.