The GUT-TAVI prospective cohort study is designed to evaluate changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolic markers in 40 adults undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
Does transcatheter aortic valve implantation alter gut microbiota composition in adults with severe aortic valve stenosis?
This study protocol describes a prospective cohort investigation to examine changes in gut microbiota and related metabolic markers after TAVI in patients with severe aortic stenosis.
ObjectiveAlterations in gut microbiota have been reported in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS), yet the impact of haemodynamic restoration following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on microbiota composition remains unclear. This study protocol describes a prospective cohort investigation designed to examine changes in gut microbiota and related metabolic markers after TAVI.Methods'GUT-TAVI' is a single-centre, prospective observational cohort study enrolling 40 adults with severe AVS undergoing TAVI. Stool samples will be collected at two timepoints (1 month to 1 day pre-TAVI and 3 months post-TAVI) for 16S-rRNA sequencing. Serum trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), standard biochemical markers, echocardiographic parameters, and dietary adherence scores will also be assessed. The primary endpoint is the change in gut microbiota composition following TAVI. Secondary analyses will examine associations between microbiota changes, haemodynamic parameters, and TMAO levels while accounting for potential confounders.ResultsAs a protocol, no results are yet available. Planned analyses include alpha- and beta-diversity comparisons, multi-variable modelling, sub-group analyses, and sensitivity analyses addressing antibiotic exposure and procedural variability.ConclusionsThis study may provide preliminary insights into how haemodynamic improvement after TAVI is associated with changes in gut microbiota and metabolic function. Findings may help inform future, larger-scale studies investigating the gut-heart axis in cardiovascular diseases.
Manti et al. (2026) studied this question. The GUT-TAVI prospective cohort study is designed to evaluate changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolic markers in 40 adults undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.