Prognostic influence of mitral regurgitation prior to a first myocardial infarction

Aims Mitral regurgitation (MR) following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) confers an adverse prognosis during long-term follow-up. There are no studies evaluating the influence of pre-AMI MR in the short- and long-term prognosis of such patients. Our aim was to assess the prognostic value of pre-AMI MR in the short- and long-term follow-up of patients who suffered a first AMI and to assess its influence on left ventricular haemodynamics. Methods and results Sixty-eight consecutive patients with a first AMI and an echocardiographic study before AMI (