[Evolution of severe mitral regurgitation after optimization of pharmacological therapy in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy].

In dilated cardiomyopathy, severe functional mitral regurgitation (MR) is associated with a poor prognosis. In 112 consecutive clinically stable patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, echocardiography identified 15 (14%) patients who had severe MR (age, 53+/-12 years; 80% male; left ventricular ejection fraction, 26 +/- 8%). Existing medical treatment with ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers was increased up to the maximum tolerated doses. At 6 months, MR decreased by at least one grade in 13 (87%) patients (P =.001), as did the effective regurgitant orifice area (from 0.41 [0.05] mm2 to 0.20 [0.15] mm2; P.