Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement in Rheumatic Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation

BACKGROUND: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a leading cause of valvular heart disease worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The mitral and aortic valves are most often affected; however, tricuspid valve involvement has been observed in advanced cases. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of a patient with RHD with tricuspid valve involvement who successfully underwent transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR). DISCUSSION: TTVR is a promising, less-invasive alternative treatment for patients with severe symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation deemed unsuitable for surgery. Despite the increasing adoption of TTVR, patients with RHD are frequently excluded from major clinical trials, leading to limited evidence supporting the use of this intervention in this population. TAKE-HOME MESSAGES: As TTVR technology advances, its application in RHD warrants further exploration. The routine exclusion of RHD patients or pathology from TTVR clinical trials should also be reconsidered.