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Tricuspid regurgitation classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rim Halaby, M.D. [2] Fatimo Biobaku M.B.B.S [3] Basir Gill, M.B.B.S, M.D.[4]

Overview

Overview

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) can be broadly classified as primary or secondary. Primary (or organic) TR results from an organic lesion of the tricuspid valve itself, whereas secondary (or functional) TR is caused by left heart failure or pulmonary hypertension without an intrinsic abnormality of the tricuspid valve.

Classification

Classification

Mechanistically, TR can be classified as primary, secondary or cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) related. Primary (or organic) TR results from an organic lesion of the tricuspid valve itself, whereas secondary (or functional) TR is caused by left-sided heart disease and/or pulmonary hypertension without an intrinsic abnormality of the tricuspid valve.[1] Secondary (functional) TR can be further classified according to the predominant mechanism and cardiac remodeling pattern into atrial secondary TR and ventricular secondary TR.[1] Atrial secondary TR is characterized by right atrial enlargement and tricuspid annular dilation with relatively preserved right ventricular size and function, whereas ventricular secondary TR is associated with right ventricular dilation, papillary muscle displacement, leaflet tethering, and often pulmonary hypertension.[1] TR in the presence of a CIED lead is classified as either CIED associated TR or CIED related TR. CIED associated TR is not directly caused by the lead while the CIED related TR is directly caused by lead placement.[1][2][3][4]

Classification of Tricuspid Regurgitation[5]
Classification                                                                 Etiologies
Primary/Organic TR
Degenerative                                                        Prolapse, flail

Congenital                                                           Ebstein anomaly, tricuspid atresia, leaflet

cleft

Acquired                                                              Infective endocarditis, rheumatic disease,

carcinoid disease, traumatic, iatrogenic

(biopsy, drugs, radiation therapy)

Secondary/Functional TR 
Ventricular Secondary TR                                  Primary pulmonary artery hypertension,

Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart diseases

Pulmonary hypertension due to lung diseases

Atrial Secondary TR                                           Atrial fibrillation, heart failure with

preserved ejection fraction

CIED-related TR
Type A (causative)                                               Leaflet impingement, perforation,

Valvular/subvalvular adhesions/restriction

Type B (incidental)                                              No tricuspid valve interference

Abbreviations: CIED, cardiac implantable electronic device; TR, tricuspid regurgitation

Based on severity, TR is expanded over a 5-grade scale.

Threshold values for the echocardiographic parameters used to grade TR severity[5][6]
Mild (1+) Moderate (2+) Severe (3+) Massive (4+) Torrential (5+)
Qualitative
Tricuspid

Morphology

Normal or mildly abnormal Moderately abnormal Severely abnormal (flail leaflet, large coaptation gap, marked tethering)
Color-flow jet area Small, narrow, central Moderate central Large central, or eccentric, wall impinging
Flow convergence zone Not visible, transient, or small Intermediate in size and duration Large throughout systole
CW-Doppler contour Faint,                  partial,

parabolic

Dense, parabolic Dense, parabolic                 or

triangular

Dense, often

triangular,

may have low peak velocity

Dense, usually triangular, often low peak velocity
Right heart size Usually normal Normal or mild

dilation

Usually dilated Dilated
Semiquantitative
VC width, mm <3 3-6.9 7-13.9 14-20.9 ≥21
PISA radius, mm ≤5.4 5.5-8.9 ≥9
Hepatic vein flow Systolic dominant Systolic blunting Systolic flow reversal
Tricuspid inflow A-wave dominant Variable E-wave dominant (≥1 m/s)
Quantitative
PISA EROA, mm2 <20 20-39 40-59 60-79 ≥80
Doppler volumetric 75-94.9 95-114.9 ≥115
EROA, mm2
PISA RegVol, (mL) <30 30-44 45-59 60-74 ≥75
RegFrac,  % <15 16-49% ≥50
3D Vena contracta area, mm2 75-94.9 95-114.9 ≥115
References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hahn, R. T. (2023). Tricuspid regurgitation. The New England Journal of Medicine, 388(20), 1876–1891. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra2216709
  2. Andreas, M., Burri, H., Praz, F., Soliman, O., Badano, L., Barreiro, M., Cavalcante, J. L., de Potter, T., Doenst, T., Friedrichs, K., Hausleiter, J., Karam, N., Kodali, S., Latib, A., Marijon, E., Mittal, S., Nickenig, G., Rinaldi, A., Rudzinski, P. N., … Leclercq, C. (2024). Tricuspid valve disease and cardiac implantable electronic devices. European Heart Journal, 45(5), 346–365. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad783
  3. Antunes, M. J., Rodríguez-Palomares, J., Prendergast, B., De Bonis, M., Rosenhek, R., Al-Attar, N., Barili, F., Casselman, F., Folliguet, T., Iung, B., Lancellotti, P., Muneretto, C., Obadia, J.-F., Pierard, L., Suwalski, P., Zamorano, P., & on behalf of the ESC Working Groups of Cardiovascular Surgery and Valvular Heart Disease. (2017). Management of tricuspid valve regurgitation: Position statement of the European Society of Cardiology Working Groups of Cardiovascular Surgery and Valvular Heart Disease. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 52(6), 1022–1030. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezx279
  4. Hahn, R. T., Lawlor MD MS, M., Davidson, C. J., Badhwar, V., Sannino, A., Spitzer, E., Lurz, P., Lindman MD MSCI, B., Topilsky, Y., Baron MD MSc, S., Chadderdon, S., Khalique, O. K., Gilbert H.L. Tang, MD, MSc, MBA, Taramasso, M., Grayburn, P. A., Badano, L., Leipsic, J., Lindenfeld, J., Windecker, S., … Hausleiter, J. (2023). Tricuspid Valve Academic Research Consortium Definitions for Tricuspid Regurgitation and Trial Endpoints. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.08.008
  5. 5.0 5.1 Tomaselli, M. (2025). New concepts regarding the pathophysiology, severity assessment and prognostic stratification of secondary tricuspid regurgitation using advanced echocardiography techniques. Italy.
  6. Hahn, R. T., & Zamorano, J. L. (2017). The need for a new tricuspid regurgitation grading scheme. European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging, 18(12), 1342–1343. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jex139

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