Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) has been associated with increased mortality and progressive functional deterioration. Even though the current guidelines recommend a surgical treatment of TR, there is limited evidence in support of this indication and, historically, results have been discouraging. Also, seeing as optimal medical treatment (OMT) has been shown ineffective to stop its natural evolution, the cardiovascular community has developed safer and more effective percutaneous interventions.
Initial studies on effectiveness have shown transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) can significantly reduce TR severity and improve patient functional capacity. In this context, the TRAVEL study (Transcatheter Right Atrial-Ventricular Valve Replacement with LuX-Valve) was a prospective multicenter study conducted across eight centers in China, seeking to assess the LuX-Valve TTVR system clinical performance in patients with severe symptomatic TR at high surgical risk for surgical tricuspid valve surgery.
The aim of this article was to look into the one year outcomes of the TRAVEL trial with the LuX-Valve
The primary outcome was all cause mortality and hospitalization for cardiac failure at one year.
The study included 126 patients, mean age 65, mostly women. All patients were in functional class NYHA III or IV and presented high surgical risk, with mean STS 9.2.
Read also: What Factors Predict Permanent Pacemaker Implantation after TAVR? CONDUCT-TAVI Outcomes.
At one year, all-cause mortality resulted 10.3%, and 4.0% of patients required hospitalization for CF. TR was reduced to mild or null in 95.2% of cases (p < 0.001), with significant reduction of right atrial systolic volume (38.3 ± 21.7 ml; p < 0.001) and right ventricular end-systolic diameter (6.4 ± 2.3 mm; p < 0.001). Also, 79.8% of patients reached NYHA functional class I or II (p < 0.001), and the 6-minute walk test distance increased iby 71.3 ± 42.8 m (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The TRAVEL one year outcomes have shown the LuX valve is a feasible and effective treatment for patients with severe TR. The procedure reached a high success rate with significant and sustained reduction of tricuspid regurgitation severity. Lower rates of mortality and hospitalization for CF, together with improved functional status, suggest the LuX valve might be a safe and effective therapeutic alternative for patients at high risk with limited treatment options.
Original Title: Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement With the Novel System 1-Year Outcomes From the TRAVEL Study.
Reference: Xiangbin Pan, MD, PHD et al JACC CardiovascInterv. 2025; 18: 1276–1285.
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