Basal asynchrony and resynchronization with biventricular pacing predict long-term improvement of LV function in heart failure patients

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2003 Sep;26(9):1815-23. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9592.2003.t01-1-00275.x.

Abstract

Biventricular pacing (BiV) is emerging for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and asynchrony. We measured basal asynchrony and early resynchronization by radionuclide angioscintigraphy (RNA) in order to predict long-term evolution of ventricular function after BiV. Thirty-four patients (NYHA Class III-IV,65.4 +/- 11 years) with large QRS(179 +/- 18 ms)were implanted with BiV and studied by RNA before (D0), at day 8 (D8), and during follow-up(20 +/- 7 months). We calculated left and right ejection fractions, the interventricular dyssynchrony (TRVLV), and the apicobasal dyssynchrony (Tab). LVEF improved from 20.2 +/- 8.1%(D0) to27.1%+/- 12.6%(follow-up,P < 0.003 vs D0) and RVEF from 28.6%+/- 13%(D0) to 34.3 +/- 11.5%(follow-up,P < 0.03 vs D0). Inter- (DeltaTRVLV) and intraventricular resynchronization was immediate and remained stable: TRVLV decreased from 68.3 +/- 38 ms(D0) to 13.4 +/- 48.5 ms(D8) and1.8 +/- 39.2 ms(follow-up,P < 0.0001 vs D0); and Tab from 45.8 +/- 64.1 msto-18 +/- 68(D8) and-28.3 +/- 53.6 ms(follow-up,P < 0.0001 vs D0). Early inter- and intraventricular resynchronization (DeltaTab) at D8 were related to late LVEF and RVEF improvement. Together, an LVEF > 15% and a significant interventricular dyssynchrony (TRVLV > 60 ms) at D0 have a sensitivity of 79% and a positive predictive value of 83% to predict an improvement of LVEF superior to 5% at follow-up. In DCM patients, BiV resynchronizes ventricles early and in the long-term, while RVEF and LVEF improve progressively. Patients with large electromechanical dyssynchrony benefit most from BiV.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / methods*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / physiopathology
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gated Blood-Pool Imaging
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Conduction System / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pacemaker, Artificial*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Stroke Volume / physiology
  • Time Factors
  • Ventricular Function, Left / physiology*