Long-Term Outcomes of Indirect Annuloplasty for Functional Mitral Regurgitation: Interim Results From the CINCH Registry

Background Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) has limited effective treatment options. As a transcatheter indirect annuloplasty, the Carillon Mitral Contour System reduces FMR and improves symptoms, but long-term safety and effectiveness are incompletely characterized. Methods This prospective, multicenter CINCH registry enrolled heart failure patients with FMR treated with the Carillon Mitral Contour System across 22 centers in Germany. Main outcomes included change in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and MR severity, heart failure hospitalization (HFH), all-cause mortality rates, and device- or procedure-related serious adverse events at 1 year. Median follow-up was 2.0 years (range, 0-5 years). Results Among 228 patients (age 78 ± 8 years; 51% female; 51% with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%), Carillon implantation improved clinical and echocardiographic variables. The rate of NYHA class III or IV symptoms decreased from 81 to 29% at 1 year, and the rate of moderate-to-severe MR (grade 3+/4+) decreased from 84 to 9% at 1 year, with ≥92% showing stable or improved NYHA class and ≥97% showing stable or improved MR grade over 5 years. Decreases in MR grade were associated with improvements in NYHA class (p = 0.048). Kaplan–Meier estimates over 5 years were 54.0% for HFH, 46.9% for all-cause mortality, and 68.3% for the composite of HFH or death. The proportion of patients experiencing any serious device- or procedure-related serious adverse event at 1 year was 1.8%. Conclusions The CINCH registry provides real-world evidence supporting the long-term safety, effectiveness, and durability of the Carillon Mitral Contour System in treating FMR.